There’s serious tension in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA following the announcement of the result of the screening Committee ahead of the November 6th Guber Election.
Announcing the result of the screening held on June 10th, 2021, Ifeanyi Mbaeri, Esq., the National Organising Secretary of APGA said out of the 9 screened aspirants, 4 scaled through while 5 persons weren’t cleared.
The people cleared by the party include former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles, Chukwuma Soludo; Ezenwankwo Okwudili Christopher; Okolo Damian Chibuzo and Ibeh ThankGod Kenechukwu Christopher.
However, the party failed to clear 3 serving Lawmakers and two other person.
Ozoka Odera Ifeanyi wasn’t cleared, according to the party, his membership of the party is less than 18 months and he required a waiver from the NWC which he never applied for nor granted. They also said the aspirant isn’t registered in the state and ineligible to vote in Anambra state and his nomination fell short of the 2/3 spread of APGA members in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Nonso smart, current member of Anambra State House of Assembly was also disqualified. They accused him of “defiance and insubordination to party authority and supremacy, which cast a dark shadow of doubt on the genuineness and credibility of his APGA membership. His nomination fell short of the 2/3 spread of APGA members in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Also, Nwankpo Akachukwu Sullivan, a close aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was also not cleared because his membership of the party is less than 18 months and he required a waiver from the NWC which he never applied for nor granted. His nomination fell short of the 2/3 spread of APGA members in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Umeoji Chukwuma Micheal, a current member of the House of Representatives wasn’t cleared by the party citing “defiance and insubordination to party authority and supremacy, which cast a dark shadow of doubt on the genuineness and credibility of his APGA membership.
“Considered as an unsuitable APGA member to participate in the Governorship Primary Election at the moment. Doubtful financial status of his nominators as APGA members, invalid statutory declaration of age, gross alterations and mutilation of his nomination form which contains an affidavit under oath contrary to Section 117(2) of the Evidence Act
The last candidate that was disqualified is Umeoduagu Nnamdi Dike Cater, a member of the Federal House of Representatives. He was axed by the party for: “Defiance and insubordination to party authority and supremacy, which cast a dark shadow of doubt on the genuineness and credibility of his APGA membership.
“Considered as an unsuitable APGA member to participate in the Governorship Primary Election at the moment.”
Members of the party have frowned at the decision of the screening Committee saying “this is a murder of democratic process” made to favour a particular candidate.
Some supporters of the disqualified candidates opined that the party has just shot itself on the foot as the best candidates have been removed from the contest.
The party also said that: “Unsuccessful aspirants are at liberty to exercise their right of appeal in writing only, as stipulated by article 10(1) of the APGA electoral guidelines for Anambra State Governorship Primary Election 2021.
