As predicted, ex-Central Bank Governor, Chukwuma Soludo today wins APGA nomination to position for 6 November Anambra Governorship polls.
He bested a troika of lightweight and relatively unknown politicians, chalking up 93.4 percent of delegate votes.
Newsmen were shut out of the primaries election venue, a show of annoyance over reportage of its lingering internal crisis.
Soludo garnered 740 of 792 valid votes, leaving 52 votes to be shared by Rep. Okwudili Ezenwakwo (41 votes), Damian Okolo (7) and Thankgod Ibeh (4).
The heavyweights who sought the nomination were deftly pushed aside for Soludo widely seen as the Governor’s preferred candidate.
Returning officer, Samson Olalere, said today that of the 812 delegates registered to vote, 795 were accredited while 792 voted.
Gov. Willie Obiano wasted no time raising Soludo’s hand and congratulating him as victor.
Soludo accepted the nomination and promised to build on Obiano’s legacy if elected Governor on 6 November 2021.
He expressed effusive thanks to both the Governor and APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye, for standing by him.
Delegates accreditation was conducted at Alex Ekwueme Square Awka while elections proper held at Prof. Dora Akunyuli Women Development Centre.
Analysts are still wondering whether the election will be invalidated as INEC said the party breached the rules by failing to give a 21-day notice of its prior ward delegates elections.
However, APGA party Chair, Victor Oye, said this evening in an interview with Channels TV that his party gave the mandatory notice.
A rival APGA faction led by Chief Jude Okeke announced today that Prof. Soludo has been suspended from the party.
