|
Listen to article
|
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may not be able to take part in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State going by recent communications from the electoral umpire.
This development is hinged on the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that a faction of the party led by Victor Oye did not duly notify it of the plan to hold ward congresses ahead of the governorship poll within the 21 days recommended by its regulations and Section 85 of the Electoral Act.
The Eastern Updates gathered that INEC has communicated its position on the matter to the faction in two separate letters.
Read Also: APGA Calls On IGP To Arrest ‘Culprits’ Behind NEC Meeting
In one of the letters, the commission addressed its position to the principal counsel of a law firm, Omas and Partners, who had earlier written and asked for the information while relying on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
The letter dated June 18, 2021, read, ‘This is to inform you that the commission did not receive the statutory 21 days’ notice for the nomination of APGA Anambra State governorship candidate from Victor Oye led APGA.
‘Accordingly, the commission did not monitor the said ward congress and as such, there is no monitoring report of the Commission.’
The second letter which was addressed to the National Chairman of APGA also read, ‘Please refer to your letter dated June 16, 2021, forwarding the list of delegates for the nomination of APGA’s Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election.
‘This is to notify you that the records of the Commission indicates that APGA did not duly notify the Commission of the date of the Congress where the ad hoc delegates were elected as required by Section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended)
‘Accordingly the Commission is unable to confirm if the Ad hoc Delegates list submitted by your party is the outcome of a democratic process as required by Section 87(7) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
‘The Commission wishes to emphasize the need for full compliance with all legal requirements for the conduct of Party Primaries as earlier communicated in the Commissions letter to your Party dated 37 June 2021 (REF: INEC/DEPM/UPPM/119/1/37).’
The two letters by INEC have therefore rendered APGA’s Wednesday governorship primary an exercise in futility as the use of invalid delegate list will exclude the party from the election.
THE EASTERN UPDATES
