Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s governorship hopes dim as APGA leadership tumbles into an avoidable and potentially costly mistake.
The party failed to inform INEC within 21 days of its intention to conduct delegates selection at the ward level.
This administrative lapse denies INEC the mandate to observe and authenticate delegate ward selection process which has been concluded.
APGA planned its primaries to hold this Wednesday, 23 June 2021 in Awka to pick a candidate for the 6 November battleto occupy the Agu Awka Government House.
The party wrote to INEC on 16 June to forward a list of delegates for the governorship primaries for Wednesday’s primary election.
INEC responded by accusing the party of breaching the electoral law on selection of ward delegates to the primaries.
INEC therefore said it will be difficult to ascertain that authentic delegates will be voting in the primaries on Wednesday.
“This is to notify you that the records of the Commission indicates (sic) that APGA did not duly notify the Commission of the date of the Congress where the ad hoc delegates were elected as required by Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
“Accordingly, the Commission is unable to confirm if the Ad hoc Delegates list submitted by your party is the outcome of a democratic process as required by Section 87(7) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
“The Commission wishes to emphasize the need for full compliance with all legal requirements for the conduct of Party Primaries as earlier communicated in the Commissions letter to your Party dated 37 June 2021 (sic) (REF: INEC/DEPM/UPPM/119/1/37).”
Rival faction makes a pitch
APGA had hitherto broken into two factions and the INEC position has suddenly thrown the Chief Victor Oye faction into confusion.
Analysts said today that Prof. Soludo’s hopes of picking the governorship ticket with the Oye-faction has become a huge risk.
“His nomination could potentially be upturned in a court of law, if INEC fails to validate the delegates list that gives him a ticket from the Oye faction,” a party loyalist said.
The rival APGA faction asked Governor Obiano to use them to run the primaries, rather than risk losing the November election through a technicality.
The faction accused Oye of orchestrating a deliberate mistake in order to benefit “enemies” of the party.
Their spokesperson, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, said his faction is now the only choice for APGA to legally participate in the election.
“Our faction served all valid notices for the APGA primary in Anambra,” he told newsmen.
“As disheartening as it is, there is still hope for the party.
“It is important to join hands with the faction now if the party must take part in the election.”
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But a strong ally of the Oye faction told Enugu Metro that it is an unlikely prospect. He refused to have us mention his name because he is not authorized to speak on the subject.
“Look, these impostors have a list of delegates’ names that we do not know.
“If we succumb to this blackmail, we will pay dearly for it.
“They can easily vote for someone who has been giving them the funds to cause confusion in our party,” he said.
APGA’s many woes
APGA’s national leadership has been receiving hard legal and technical tackles since it began romancing with the former CBN Governor.
Anambra informed analysts predict that APGA’s choice of candidate will affect the party’s chances of winning the polls on 6 November 2021.
The party dampened interest in the ticket by asking aspirants to pay at N22million to participate in the Governorship primaries.
It costs N2million to obtain an interest form and N20million to submit a nomination form. There is however a 50% discount for women and disabled aspirants.
Sale of forms ended on 8 June with 4 major candidates claiming to have made the cut.
Prof. Soludo appears to be a frontrunner although other aspirants appear not to be intimidated by his towering profile. Finalists are said to include Representative Chukwuma Umeoji (APGA, Aguata), Chief Stanley Uzochukwu, and Billionaire Nicholas Ukachukwu.
Analysts also said Governor Obiano favours Prof. Soludo as a potential successor, a claim that aides hotly denied.
A group of youths has also alleged that there were efforts to weed them out from the primaries.
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