Anambra 2021: angry aspirants absent as APGA holds primary

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Wednesday held its primary election to elect the candidate for the November 6 governorship election amidst tight security

812 delegates from the 326 Wards in the 21 local government areas of the State were accredited at the Dr Alex Ekwueme square before they moved to the Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, venue of the voting on chartered luxury buses

But the notable absentees at the venue were the angry aspirants like Hon Chukwuma Umeoji who was allegedly disqualified by the party and Dr Akachukwu Nwankpo, who was cleared to contest

Those cleared by the party to contest according to the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Deacon Sampson Segun Olalere include; Prof Chukwuma Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, member representing Orumba-North and South federal constituency, Hon. OkwudiliChukwu Ezenwankwo, Sir Damian Okolo and Mr. ThankGod Ibe.

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He also announced that some officials from the national and state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were at the venue to monitor the conduct of the governorship primary.

Hon. Umeoji had earlier after his disqualification faulted the party’s leadership decided against him, and, insisted that he must participate in the governorship primary.

Meanwhile, the heavy presence of security operatives from the Police, Military, Department of State Service (DSS) among others made the arena look like a war zone.

The security men nearly outnumbered the party delegates, with the State governor, Chief Willie Obiano in attendance.

Many journalists were harassed and chased out of the venue by the police operatives who insisted that they were acting on the orders from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Anambra state governor.

The intervention of the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment saved the reporters who were not accredited for the primary.