By Gladys Ekwu
The National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, has urged the INEC not to hesitate in publishing the name of APGA gubernatorial candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo amongst the list of candidates in the forthcoming election in Anambra State.
Chief Oye also called on INEC to stand firm and resist any pressure not to do what is right about who is APGA candidate in the November 6, 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election.
In an Open letter he addressed to the INEC chairman, Chief Oye said there was no need questioning the fact that he remains the only legally, legitimately and constitutionally-recognized national chairman of APGA, pointing out that Jude Okeke can never call the NEC meeting of the party talk more of removing him from office.
According to him, Article thirteen of APGA Constitution 2019, says it is only the national chairman that is authorized to convene the meeting of NEC, NWC and National Convention and wondered who authorized the convening of the Jude Okeke’s meeting of June fifteenth, 2021 in which the national chairman was purportedly removed.
Chief Oye said that the Jigawa Court, which INEC appears to be relying upon lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter that had its origin in Awka.
The APGA National Chairman said the party followed laid down procedures to produce its candidate, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and urged INEC to write its name into posterity by doing what is right, that is, reflecting Professor Soludo’s name on the list.
Chief Oye wondered why INEC did not consider the fact that there is a motion for stay of execution of the Jigawa judgment, just as there is a contrary order of Federal High Court, Awka for INEC to accept the APGA candidate that emerged from the APGA primary held on June twenty-third, 2021 in Awka.
According to his argument, deadline for receipt of nominations was ninth July, 2021, pointing out that if INEC had obeyed the Electoral Act, Soludo’s name ought to have been published last week, as the party submitted his name for upload since July second.
