The Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) has declared publicly that it did not endorse the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any candidate of any political party in the 2023 general elections as wrongly insinuated in a national newspaper.

The National president of ASATU, Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo, who made the public declaration on Sunday in Awka, said that ASATU is non-political and non-partisan rather its primary concern is community development in Anambra state in working the government in power.

He said ASATU has no political or party affiliations with any individual or organisation and would not want to be coaxed into politics power tussle with any group, and shall in due course take a firm and right stand as per the upcoming national election if need be.

That the publication claiming that Presidents-General of Idemili-North and South local government areas have resolved to give full backing to Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar of the PDP was completely out of place because there was no time ASATU National office took such decision or in any way mandated leadership of any of its Zones or Local Government to tilt towards such direction.

He explained that all the Presidents-General of the 179 communities of Anambra state were under ASATU and that no PG takes unilateral decision affecting ASATU because all decisions according to the National President emanated from the central office.

“That PGs from Idemili-North and South purportedly pledged to work to deliver Atiku or any presidential candidate in the state” Well, as the National President of ASATU, I am saying that it is not correct. When I made enquires, I was told that Idemili-North and South PGs were planning a reception for all their sons and daughters that were given political appointments by Mr. Governor of Anambra state, major Stakeholders, community developers / philanthropist, eminent scholars and those that won national awards to celebrate with them in their successes.

“The PGs paid courtesy call on the Idemili-North local government chairman and also paid the same courtesy call to me as the ASATU National President including others to inform them of their plans to organise the reception. So that’s what they did.

”They on that stead went to one of the major stakeholders of the PDP in Anambra state, Prof Obiora Okonkwo OFR who was given a National Award by President Muhammadu Buhari. So if anybody or any PG declared support for any presidential candidate, that person is not speaking on behalf of ASATU. ASATU both at the National, Zonal and Local Government level has not taken a decision on whom to support or to work with.

“It is not true that ASATU through the Local Government or Zone endorsed any candidate or pledged to deliver any candidate in Anambra state. ASATU is non-partisan. They take their decision in due course and there is hierarchy in ASATU. No zone or local government can take such a fundamental decision independently without due consultations with the national body otherwise such shall be a vain proclamation and efforts in futility.

“As far as ASATU is concerned, the report trending is not the true position of things. I was not consulted and I am not aware that any of the Presidents-General made such statement or pledge. If anybody did, that person speaks for himself and not for ASATU. All I was told was that they paid a courtesy call on our beloved brother to rejoice with him on the National Award and if in the course of discussion any other thing happened, that person is not speaking on behalf of ASATU at all. The National Executive council of ASATU is not aware of that and we are dissociating ourselves from it.

“I was not consulted. The national body of ASATU was not consulted. The zonal leaders were not consulted. And Idemili-North and South cannot be claiming to speak on behalf of ASATU without due consultations from the national body. So such news is of no consequence because it did not emanate from the appropriate authority as far as ASATU is concerned. (Daily Independent)