Uncertainty trails APC primaries in Anambra, as aggrieved participants besiege party secretariat

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By Madu Obi

The fate of many All Progressives Congress, APC, national assembly aspirants in Anambra State is still uncertain as most of the results of the House of Representatives primaries conducted on Sunday are yet to be released.

As a result, many aspirants on Monday besieged the party's state secretariat in Awka with complaints, just as those who claimed victory in their constituencies were hovering around to ensure that their results were not upturned.

A visit to the secretariat at about 2.00 pm, showed that officials of the party were still in a meeting and materials for the conduct of the Senatorial primary scheduled for Monday were yet to be distributed.

Some of the Senatorial aspirants and their agents were seen moving in and out of offices in the secretariat.

Meanwhile, controversy is still trailing the result of Idemili North and South federal constituency, where Dr Kingsley Ezekwelu is claiming victory with over 1800 votes.

While supporters of Ezekwelu were in jubilation and looking beyond the primary, his closest rival, Dike Igboekwe, has cried foul.

Igboekwe has already submitted a petition to the party, demanding the cancellation of the results from the area over alleged irregularities.

In the petition addressed to the House of Representatives Appeal Committee chairman and copied to the APC national chairman, the NWC, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and the Anambra state chairman of the party, among others, Igboekwe alleged that there was no voting process, no accreditation of voters, no official result sheet, no counting of votes and no observance by INEC officials at the venues of the primary.

According to him, what happened in the area was that those who gathered for the primary in various places were later informed that results had been declared and winner announced.

"The actions of those involved amount to electoral fraud, manipulation and misrepresentation of the will of the people. These actions undermine democratic principles, violate electoral guidelines and deny eligible participants their constitutional and organizational rights", his petition read in part.

He called for a thorough investigation and for disciplinary action to be meted against those found culpable.