Allegations of anointed candidates are currently trailing the conduct of the State and National Assembly primary elections of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State.
This is coming as Political Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo, Dr Alex Obiogbolu and former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe were reportedly leading fellow aspirants in the Senatorial and House of Representatives primary elections in Anambra North District.
Similarly, the Mayor of Aguata Local Government Area and aspirant for Aguata Federal Constituency Dr Chibueze Ofobuike, is said to be leading in the primary election so far .
Making the allegations of anointed candidates, Mr Chukwudi Udensi, Convener of APGA Coalition, said that the party already knew who its candidates were before the primary elections adding that the party would have asked other aspirants not to participate in the elections .
“We have been on a tour of most Local Government Areas and wards in Anambra State and what we have seen so far shows that the aspirants that are currently leading are appointees of the state government.
“Some are those, who are cronies of top party leaders in our state and they have gone against the Code of Conduct that was stipulated by the party before the elections ”
Udensi contended that Governor Soludo may not be in the know of this grand plot by some party leaders to impose their friends on the party in the name of free and transparent electoral process.
“Yes Soludo may not know what is happening but we expected that the Governor would have set up a secret investigative panel in the three Senatorial Districts to monitor what is happening but it is unfortunate that our party has nosedived to this level ” he regretted.
But National Publicity Secretary of APGA , Mazi Ejimofor Opara, dismissed those claims, stating that those allegations were too cheap.
“This is a direct primary election that has to do with option A4, where people stand behind their preferred candidates and vote and one wonders where the alleged manipulations took place.
