Awka – Fears expressed by members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, over an impending crisis in the party on Monday came true following the disqualification of some key aspirants on the party’s platform for the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra State.
APGA on Monday, cleared former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, and three others to contest the party’s primary for the governorship election scheduled for the 23rd of this month.
Others cleared to contest the APGA primary poll are Damian Okolo, ThankGod Ibe, and Hon. Ezenwankwo Okwudili, a member currently representing Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
According to a statement on the outcome of the screening panel of the Party signed by Mr Ifeanyi Mbaeri, the APGA National Organising Secretary, contestants disqualified from the poll were Hon Chuma Umeoji, currently representing Aguata Federal constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Cater Dike Umeh, state House of Assembly member for Aguata 1 and Hon Nonso Smart Okafor, House of Assembly member for Nnewi North.
The reason for their disqualification as stated in the statement include “defiance and insurbodination to party authority and supremacy, which cast a shadow of doubt on the genuineness and credibility of their APGA membership and their inability to meet the 2/3 APGA nominators’ spread in the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State.”
Others were Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, a former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and one Ozoka Odera Ifeanyi who were disqualified for having been in the party for less than 18 months and inability to obtain Waiver on the shortcoming from the National Working Committee of the Party.
The party however revealed that the 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.
“The decision of the screening committee or the screening appeal panel is liable to veto by the National Working Committee, NWC, which is the final authority in terms of the eligibility or otherwise of prospective aspirants to participate in the Anambra State Governorship Primary Election of the Party,” it said.
But in his reaction to the development on Monday, one of the disqualified aspirants, Chief Umeoji said he was still in the race with Prof. Charles Soludo, who he alleged, happens to be the choice of governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and others.
His reaction was contained in a statement signed by his media team and made available to newsmen in Awka, on Monday.
The statement read in part; “we wish to inform our supporters, party faithful and entire Anambra electorates that we have received the Report of the APGA Screening Committee held on the 10th Day of June 2021 at the party National Secretariat Abuja.
“According to the Report of the Committee which was released this morning, 14th Day of June 2021, Hon. Chukwuma Michael Umeoji KSJI, MHR was “Not Cleared” to participate in the forthcoming APGA primary election slated for June 23, 2021.
“It is the report of the Screening Committee and not the final decision of the National Working Committee of our great party, All Progressives Grand Alliance party, APGA ably led by the indefatigable National Chairman, Dr Victor Oye.
“Pursuant to the constitution and guideline of our great party, APGA, Hon Chukwuma Umeoji, will write to the NWC to appeal the decision and report of the Screening Committee and we hope that the party leadership in her wisdom would consider our appeal and exercise a veto that will enable Hon Chukwuma Michael Umeoji, participate in the primaries.
“Party faithful should ensure they participate fully in the ward Congress to elect Ad-Hoc Delegates for the Nomination of APGA Governorship candidate on 23rd June and resist every attempt of imposition while we await the reaction and final decision of the NWC.
“We urge our supporters and discerning Anambrarians to remain calm and put the interest of the party first.
“We are still committed to building a greater and better Anambra State together”, the statement concluded.
