Anambra guber: APGA counters INEC, says letter contravenes 2010 Electoral Act

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has faulted the position of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it failed to notify the Commission before conducting its Adhoc Delegates Congress to elect the delegates who will today elect the governorship candidate of the party for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Barr. Tex Okechukwu, the party stated categorically that the position of the Commission is not in line with the dictates of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as Amended, as well as a plethora of judicial authorities in that regard.

APGA said it duly complied with requisite statutory notices envisaged under the Electoral Act 2010, as Amended, as well as other requirements clearly outlined by INEC in its Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of political party primary elections published by INEC.

The statement to titled ‘Important Notice:

APGA Anambra State Governorship Primary holds June 23, 2021 unfailingly’, reads: “The attention of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been drawn to a letter with Reference No INEC/DEPM/UPPM/1/145 dated the 18th of June, 2021 and signed by the Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In the said letter, it was alleged that our party failed to notify the Commission of the Adhoc Delegates’ Congress which the party conducted across the 326 wards in Anambra State on the 15th and 16th of June 2021 respectively.”

It said in line with the INEC Regulations and Guidelines, the party “followed the procedural steps of Publication of Timetable/Schedule of activities.

“Statutory Notice of Primary Election dated the 26th of May, 2021 as envisaged under Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.

“Conduct of Ad hoc Delegates’ Election across the 326 wards of Anambra State as envisaged under Section 87(7) of the Electoral Act.

“Submission of the list of democratically elected Ad hoc Delegates to the Commission in line with Articles 4.5.1 and 4.5.2 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Political Parties primaries; as well as other relevant procedural steps/ requirements”, among others.

While pointing out that as a party and as a responsible entity, it has never defaulted in complying with requisite procedural requirements for the nomination of its candidate in the past, APGA said it will not begin now.

“We wish to reassure our esteemed party faithful, stakeholders and, indeed, the general public that our great party is fully prepared to conduct its Governorship Primary Election already slated to hold on 23rd of June 2021.

“Finally, we urge all our members and supporters to continue to pray fervently for the party, as we enter the final stages of the successful nomination of our candidate for the November 6, 2021 Governorship Election in Anambra State”, the party said.