Anambra 2021: ‘Stop parading yourself as our governorship candidate,’ APGA tells Umeoji

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has told Hon Chukwuma Umeoji to desist from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the party for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Barr. Tex Okechukwu who stated this in a personally press statement, said Prof. Chukwuma Soludo remained the authentic governorship candidate of the party for the election and nothing would change it.

The statement further noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still recognized Dr. Victor Ike Oye as the National Chairman of APGA and other executives.

The party further disowned a nomination form purportedly issued to Umeoji, saying it is fake, as it was not from the party, but a handiwork of some disgruntled elements.

The statement reads, “We wish to state unequivocally that Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo remains the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6, 2021 Governorship Election.

“We also state that up till date, it was only Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo that meticulously fulfilled all the requirements enunciated by the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the INEC Election Manual and the 2021 Electoral Guidelines of APGA for the 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election.

“It is also clear that the period permitted by law for the conduct of party primary for the election, downloading, uploading and submission of particulars of the governorship and deputy governorship  candidates of political parties ended on July 16, 2021. Anything done thereafter without final judgment of court is null and void and of no consequence.

“Going by the above, it is indisputable that APGA under the able leadership of Ozonkpu Dr Victor Ike Oye vigorously worked to meet the various timeliness outlined in the laws regulating the conduct of activities of political parties toward the November 6 Anambra State Governorship Election.

“We find it detestable that some disgruntled elements masquerading as officers of the party would indulge in brazen acts of illegality and fraud aimed at hoodwinking the unsuspecting members of the public.

“We have studied the so-called nomination form claimed by some persons to have been issued to one Chukwuma Umeoji as APGA candidate, which he purportedly filled and returned to INEC on August 5, 2021 and state without any grain of doubt that everything about it was inchoate, irregular and doubtful.

“There are three sets of forms issued to every registered political party by INEC for the Anambra State Governorship Election.  These forms were EC 9, EC 9B and EC 13B. But in the said fake letter in circulating they claimed to have submitted only Form EC 13B. This is curious!

“These forms were issued to Ozonkpu Dr. Victor Ike Oye by INEC as the national chairman of APGA and he subsequently issued the same to Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim who completed them and returned. The forms were then uploaded to INEC using a special code.

“Let it be known that there was no way INEC would have issued such forms to Chukwuma Umeoji when the matter is still in court.

“For now, the only National Chairman and National Secretary recognized by INEC are; Ozonkpu  Dr Victor Ike Oye and HE Labaran Maku, CON, respectively.

“In the same vein, the only candidate duly known to law and INEC is Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo (and his deputy, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim).

“We urge our teeming supporters to discountenance the social media propaganda, remain law abiding and await the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Kano Division.”