The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which has Anambra State at its stronghold since1999, may not be able to take part in the forthcoming governorship election in the State due to a crisis rocking it.
This follows the statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that a faction of the party led by Victor Oye did not duly notify the Commission about the plan to hold ward congresses ahead of the governorship poll within the 21 days recommended by its regulations and Section 85 of the Electoral Act.
Dr. Oye, former chairman of the party, was suspended by the party last week along with some former executives. He was replaced by Jude Okeke as National Chairman.
Last week, APGA screened its governorship candidates. One of those that qualified is Prof Charles Soludo, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
INEC has already made this position known to the faction via two letters.
The first letter was addressed to the principal counsel of, Omas and Partners, a law firm, wrote the commission, requesting for the information, based on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
“This is to inform you that the commission did not receive the statutory 21 days’ notice for the nomination of APGA Anambra State governorship candidate from Victor Oye led APGA,” INEC wrote in the letter dated June 18, 2021.
“Accordingly, the commission did not monitor the said ward congress and as such, there is no monitoring report of the Commission,” it added.
INEC’s second letter was addressed to the National Chairman of APGA. “Please refer to your letter dated June 16, 2021, forwarding the list of delegates for the nomination of APGA’s Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election.
“This is to notify you that the records of the Commission indicate 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 (REF: INEC/DEPM/UPPM/119/1/37).”
