Soludo emerges APGA candidate in Anambra governorship election

 

Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday won in all the 21 local government areas of Anambra State to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6 election.

The election held in Awka by the Victor Oye faction of APGA, had the support of the only governor of the party, Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Soludo scored 740 votes out of the total 792 votes cast in the primary election he contested against four other aspirants – ThankGod Ibe, Okwudili Ezenwankwo and Barr Damian Okolo.

Soludo’s challengers, Okwudili Ezenwankwo got 41 votes, ThankGod Ibe 10 votes and Okolo Damian seven votes.

Announcing the result at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, the Chief returning officer of the party, Mr Olalere, who is the Vice Chairman Southwest of the party said: “By the power conferred on me as the Chief returning officer of the election, I hereby declare Prof Chukwuma Soludo the duly elected candidate of APGA for the November 6 governorship election.”

READ: Soludo escapes death as gunmen kill 3 policemen

READ: CBN former governor Soludo calls for total restructuring of Nigeria’s federalism

Speaking immediately after the declaration, Governor Obiano assured the candidate and members of the party that the party would again win the governorship election in November, overwhelmingly as it did in 2017.

“I want to commend the National Working Committee, the state working committee for the peaceful conduct. It is exceptional. Just know that the job has just started and we are going to win 21 over 21 local government areas again as we did in 2017.”

Soludo during an acceptance speech thanked the members of the party, while also accepting to be the candidate of the party, promising to unveil his manifesto for the election in August.

THISDAY reports that five aspirants of the party; Akachukwu Nwankpo, Nonso Okafor, Carter Dike, Chuma Umeoji and Ifeanyi Ozoka who were disqualified weeks back boycotted the exercise.