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Anambra: INEC clears Soludo as APGA gov’ship candidate

Prof. Charles Soludo, Anambara

*Obeys Kano Appeal Court ruling

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, named Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his running mate, Ibezim Onyekachukwu Gilbert as governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

Decision of the electoral management body followed the obedience of the Appeal Court, Kano ruling that recognised the Chief Victor Oye- led faction of the party which produced Soludo and Ibezim.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the decision was part of issues deliberated on at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

The Timetable and Schedule of Activities approved by the Commission on 18th January 2021 provides for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in line with Sec. 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Accordingly, by the deadline of 30th July 2021 fixed by the Commission, seven (7) Governorship and eleven (11) Deputy Governorship candidates were substituted by eleven (11) out of the eighteen (18) political parties.

Among the substitutes are former governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who left the party after losing out at the June 26 primary.

Maduka Godwin is now the governorship candidate of the Accord Party while Obiora Okonkwo is the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party.

Okoye said: “The Commission was served with the judgement of the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) which set aside the judgement of the High Court of Jigawa State on the leadership of APGA and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.

The list of substitute candidates, he said, has also been published on the Commission’s website.

However, the final list of candidates will be published on 7th October 2021 as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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