…As Nwankpo, a leading aspirant supports him
…Party holds primary election tomorrow
Ahead of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Anambra State tomorrow, Governor Willie Obiano, the leader of the party and chairman of its Board of Trustees, has declared support for Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
Similarly, one of the leading aspirants, Nze Akachukwu Sullivan Nwankpo has thrown his support behind the governor’s choice.
Nwankpo’s declaration of his support for Governor Obiano’s candidate was made yesterday evening at his country home Okija where he said that the decision was in the interest of the party in order to be formidable during the November 6, 2021 governorship polls.
His words: “I want to call on all my supporters to follow us in this our quest for a better Anambra State. As a committed member of APGA, I have always stated that party is supreme.
“Today, it is clear to me that our governor, the leader of our great party, and the Board of trustees Chairman has declared a public support for Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
“I hereby urge all APGA faithful to rally round the governor our amiable leader in making sure his choice is respected.
“The entire campaign team of Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo has welcomed the latest development, and thrown their support behind Governor Obiano in the bid to ensure APGA wins the forthcoming governorship election.”
Meanwhile, the party has reiterated its readiness to conduct its Governorship Primary Election already slated for June 23, 2021.
In a statement signed by Tex Okechukwu, National Publicity Secretary of APGA, the party called on its members to discountenance a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that it failed to notify the electoral umpire of its congress.
The statement reads:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: APGA ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY HOLDS JUNE 23, 2021 UNFAILINGLY
The attention of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been drawn to a letter with Reference No INEC/DEPM/UPPM/1/145 dated the 18th of June, 2021 and signed by the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC). In the said letter it was alleged that our party failed to notify the Commission of the Adhoc Delegates’ Congress which the party conducted across the 326 wards in Anambra State on the 15th and 16th of June 2021 respectively.
We wish to state categorically that the above position of the Commission is not in line with the dictates of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended, as well as a plethora of judicial authorities in that regard. Our party duly complied with requisite statutory notices envisaged under the Electoral Act 2010, as Amended as well as other requirements clearly outlined by INEC in its Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of political party primary elections published by INEC. In line with the said INEC Regulations and Guidelines, our great party undertook the following procedural steps, to wit;
1) Publication of Timetable/Schedule of activities.
2) Statutory Notice of Primary Election dated the 26th of May, 2021 as envisaged under Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.
3) Conduct of Ad hoc Delegates’ Election across the 326 wards of Anambra State as envisaged under Section 87(7) of the Electoral Act.
4) Submission of the list of democratically-elected Ad hoc Delegates to the Commission in line with Articles 4.5.1 and 4.5.2 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Political Parties primaries; as well as other relevant procedural steps/ requirements.
Undoubtedly, our great party, as a responsible entity, has never defaulted in complying with requisite procedural requirements for the nomination of its candidate in the past and will not begin now.
We wish to reassure our esteemed party faithful, stakeholders and, indeed, the general public that our great party is fully prepared to conduct its Governorship Primary Election already slated to hold on 23rd of June 2021.
Finally, we urge all our members and supporters to continue to pray fervently for the party as we enter the final stages of the successful nomination of our candidate for the November 6, 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra State.