Dare Babalola
Former Imo State Governor and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has denied allegations linking him to ownership of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) or involvement in plans to sabotage the current Imo State Government’s Light Up Imo Power Project.
In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, Ihedioha emphasised, “I do not own EEDC in any form, whether whole or part, beneficial or nominal. I am not on its board, I hold no shares, and do not participate in or influence its corporate decisions in any way.”
He labeled the claims as “false” and “fiction”, suggesting those spreading the narrative are not relying on facts.
The denial comes amid a heated dispute between the Imo State Government and EEDC.
The government had accused EEDC of planning “massive power outages” to undermine the state’s electricity initiative, specifically the Orashi Electricity Company – a licensed power provider under the state’s Light Up Imo Project.
EEDC, however, denied these allegations, calling them “baseless, unfounded, and completely devoid of truth”. The distribution company accused the Imo government of propaganda, pointing to an earlier incident where armed security operatives allegedly acting on government orders forced a shutdown at a Transmission Company of Nigeria substation, causing blackouts.
Ihedioha, in his statement, commended the Imo State Government’s ongoing power efforts, highlighting his own contribution to electricity development in the state – the establishment of the Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (IPOREA).
He affirmed his support for initiatives improving energy access in Imo, stressing his commitment to the state’s development “grounded in truth, integrity, and vision”.
