Executive members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra have rejected the result of the party’s primary election for the Awka North State Constituency seat.
The executives, including ward chairmen and secretaries, called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to intervene by ordering a rerun of the exercise, which they described as a “daylight robbery.”
Results of the primary election circulating on social media indicated that the incumbent lawmaker, Ikwunne Chimezie, scored 1,633 votes, while Ekegbue Emmanuel polled 4,721 votes to emerge winner.
Speaking on behalf of the party executives in the area, the APGA Local Government Chairman, Mr James Onwuka, insisted that the incumbent lawmaker enjoyed overwhelming support among party members and was massively voted for during the exercise.
Onwuka alleged that the process was hijacked, leading to manipulation and submission of results in several communities where elections allegedly did not hold.
He listed some of the affected wards as Ugbenu, Awba Ofemili, Amansea, Mgbakwu and Amanuke, among others.
According to him, it would have been impossible for Emmanuel to emerge victorious in a transparent and credible contest because of what he described as the aspirant’s unpopularity among party members.
He warned that fielding Emmanuel as the party’s candidate for the main election could pose risks to the party’s fortunes in the area.
“We appeal to the governor and party leadership to ensure justice by either returning the incumbent member or conducting a rerun in the affected wards.
“If a rerun is conducted and the declared winner secures even 40 per cent of the votes in Awka North, we will all resign for misleading the governor.
“The rerun is necessary to restore confidence in the electoral process and to prevent party members from becoming disenchanted ahead of future elections,” he said.
Onwuka also called for the replacement of the returning officers and urged the party leadership to allow non-indigenes to distribute election materials during any rerun to ensure transparency.
He said the gathering comprised chairmen and secretaries from the 14 wards in Awka North Local Government Area, as well as women and youth leaders of the party.
Efforts to reach the incumbent lawmaker for comments were unsuccessful.
However, a party source told journalists that Ikwunne had already filed a petition before the party’s appeal panel challenging Emmanuel’s victory.
