The Chief Jude Okeke-led National Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has suspended the former Governor of Central Bank Chukwuma Soludo.
The party had also dismissed the outcome of the primaries held in Awka, Anambra state, where Soludo emerged as the winner of the party’s ticket.
APGA would however conduct a fresh primary election on July 1, where the winner of the election will be the party’s governorship candidate for the Anambra gubernatorial election.
Soludo’s suspension was announced in a statement by the Ag. National Publicity Secretary of the Chief Okeke-led faction, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, in Abuja and made available to newsmen on Wednesday.
He described the whole process of the primaries that led to the Ex-CBN governor ‘s victory as a sham and an effort in futility.
Chukwunyere further revealed that the outcome of the primaries which produced Soludo as the party’s flag bearer was already being challenged in court.
The statement justified the suspension of the governorship aspirant and accused Soludo of working against the unity of the party.
There has been some controversy over the delegates list, where INEC released a statement saying the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) failed to comply with its provisions, in light of the forthcoming elections in Anambra State.
The electoral body said that the party did not duly notify it of 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.
“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 electoral body said.
However, the party has announced that the “National Executive Committee of our Party has just finished meeting and has ratified the delegates list for onward submission to INEC in line with the INEC Guidelines.
The statement further said Soludo and three other members got suspended on the grounds of other activities such as administration of oath on party officials, bribery of party officials, sabotage, promotion of division etc.
Chukwunyere said the decision to suspend Soludo, who is a governorship aspirant of the party, was taken at a meeting with top stakeholders of the Party on Tuesday.
He said “The Party is ready for the July 1 primary election.
“The NWC also applauded the members of the party in Anambra State who thronged to the Ward offices across the 326 Wards in the state to elect the three-man Ward delegates who would elect the Governorship candidate of the Party on 1st July, 2021 in line with the provisions of the Party Constitution, INEC Guidelines and the Electoral act”. He added
