{"id":50867,"date":"2026-10-05T20:03:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T20:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=50867"},"modified":"2026-10-05T20:03:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T20:03:38","slug":"press-statement-i-am-not-stepping-down-not-for-%e2%82%a6200-million-not-for-any-price","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?p=50867","title":{"rendered":"PRESS STATEMENT\u00a0     I AM NOT STEPPING DOWN \u2014 NOT FOR \u20a6200 MILLION, NOT FOR ANY PRICE\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>PRESS STATEMENT<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I AM NOT STEPPING DOWN \u2014 NOT FOR \u20a6200 MILLION, NOT FOR ANY PRICE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/?attachment_id=50868\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-50868\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-50868\" src=\"http:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG-20261005-WA0046.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG-20261005-WA0046.jpg 853w, https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG-20261005-WA0046-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG-20261005-WA0046-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.imotrumpeta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG-20261005-WA0046-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>My attention has been drawn to a malicious and completely false rumour being circulated that I, Hon. Chief Joseph Chukwuma Ikunna, I am negotiating with Hon. Kingsley Chima Uju to withdraw from the 2027 House of Representatives race in exchange for \u20a6200 million.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let me state this without ambiguity:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>IT IS FALSE. IT IS A LIE. THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH NEGOTIATION, AND THERE WILL BE NONE.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I do not know whether this fabrication originated from supporters of Kingsley Uju, Eugene Dibiagwu, or some other mischievous source. What I do know is that those circulating it are playing a dangerous game with my name, reputation, and integrity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let this therefore serve as a public warning: any person who henceforth publishes, broadcasts or circulates this allegation as a statement of fact should be prepared to provide evidence for it and defend that allegation before a court of competent jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And to those who invented the figure of \u20a6200 million, perhaps they fundamentally misunderstand the man they are dealing with.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I have undertaken legitimate business transactions and projects worth substantially more than \u20a6200 million. That amount is barely sufficient for some of the commercial transactions I undertake. The suggestion that I would sell the mandate, confidence, and expectations of our people for \u20a6200 million is not merely false; it is insulting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But let me go further.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Not \u20a6200 million. Not \u20a62 billion. Not even $10 billion would make me abandon this race.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>My candidacy is not a business transaction. I did not enter this contest to negotiate an exit package. I did not raise the hopes of thousands of supporters across Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, and Oru West merely to trade their trust for money.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I entered this race because I believe our Federal Constituency deserves a fundamentally different quality of representation \u2014 representation built around development, opportunity, wealth creation, security, and measurable results.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I am adequately prepared for the financial demands of this election. Nobody should mistake restraint for weakness. Whatever legitimate resources are required to prosecute this election effectively, I am prepared to match my opponents pound for pound.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So let nobody waste another minute negotiating my imaginary withdrawal.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I AM NOT STEPPING DOWN.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If Hon. Kingsley Chima Uju wishes to remain in the race, I welcome him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu wishes to remain in the race, I welcome him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And if either gentleman wishes to step down, that is entirely his decision.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As for me, I would much rather meet both of them at the ballot box and allow the people to decide.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I remain strong.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I remain focused.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I remain incorruptible.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And by the grace of God and the democratic will of our people, I remain absolutely confident of victory.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let the campaigns continue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let every candidate present his record, his capacity, and his vision.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And let the people decide.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>SIGNED:<\/p>\n<p>Hon. Chief Joseph Chukwuma Ikunna<\/p>\n<p>PDP Candidate, 2027 Ohaji-Egbema\/Oguta\/Oru West Federal Constituency.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>05\/10\/26<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PRESS STATEMENT &nbsp; I AM NOT STEPPING DOWN \u2014 NOT FOR \u20a6200 MILLION, NOT FOR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adverts","category-frontpage"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>PRESS STATEMENT\u00a0   I AM NOT STEPPING DOWN \u2014 NOT FOR \u20a6200 MILLION, NOT FOR ANY PRICE\u00a0 -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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