AWKA/Nigeria: Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State as party executives rejected the outcome of the party’s primary election for the Awka North State Constituency seat, describing the process as manipulated and calling for a rerun.
The aggrieved executives, comprising ward chairmen, secretaries, women and youth leaders across the local government area, appealed to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene and restore confidence in the process.
The party leaders alleged that the exercise was marred by irregularities and characterised the outcome as a “daylight robbery.”
Results circulating on social media showed that the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Ikwunne Chimezie, polled 1,633 votes, while Ekegbue Emmanuel secured 4,721 votes to emerge winner of the primary election.
Speaking on behalf of the executives, APGA Chairman in Awka North Local Government Area, Mr. James Onwuka, insisted that the incumbent lawmaker enjoyed widespread support among party members and was overwhelmingly favoured during the exercise.
Onwuka alleged that the electoral process was hijacked, leading to manipulation and the submission of results from several communities where elections allegedly did not take place.
He identified some of the affected communities as Ugbenu, Awba Ofemili, Amansea, Mgbakwu and Amanuke, among others.
According to him, it would have been difficult for Emmanuel to emerge victorious in a free and transparent contest due to what he described as the aspirant’s limited acceptance among party members in the area.
He warned that presenting Emmanuel as APGA’s candidate for the main election could negatively affect the party’s electoral fortunes in Awka North.
“We appeal to the governor and party leadership to ensure justice by either returning the incumbent member or conducting a rerun in the affected wards,” Onwuka said.
“If a rerun is conducted and the declared winner secures even 40 per cent of the votes in Awka North, we will all resign for misleading the governor.”
He stressed that a rerun had become necessary to restore credibility to the process and prevent disenchantment among party members ahead of future elections.
The APGA chairman also called for the replacement of the returning officers and urged the party leadership to allow non-indigenes to handle the distribution of election materials during any rerun exercise to guarantee transparency.
According to him, the gathering comprised chairmen and secretaries from all the 14 wards in Awka North Local Government Area, alongside women and youth leaders of the party.
Efforts to get the reaction of the incumbent lawmaker, Ikwunne Chimezie, were unsuccessful as of press time.
However, party sources disclosed that the lawmaker had already approached the party’s appeal panel to challenge Emmanuel’s victory, setting the stage for what may become another internal test for the ruling party in Anambra State.
