By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Four governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday battled for votes as ad-hoc delegates drawn from 326 wards and 21 local government areas of Anambra state chose who among the aspirants will fly the party’s flag ahead of the November 6th gubernatorial election in the state.

The actual voting exercise commenced at about 3:18pm after hours of delay due to poor logistic arrangements by organizers of the process at the Women Development Centre in Awka the state capital.

This is as confusion engulfed the camp loyal to the former Central Bank of Nigeria and frontline contender in the Anambra governorship race under APGA, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as a faction suspended him.

Chairman of the five man Anambra State Governorship primary election 2021 panel, Deacon Samson Segun Olalere announced the names of the gubernatorial aspirants as Mr. Okolo Damian Chibuzor, Professor Charles Soludo Chukwuma, Chief Ibe ThankGod and Ezenwankwo Okwudilichukwu respectively

Delegates voted after they were called out according to their local government areas inside the conference hall of the centre.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral pmmission (INEC) from the National and state Secretariats of the commission were on ground to monitor the exercise.

Also, Nationalchirman of the party,Chief Victor Oye and Governor Willie Obiano as well as other leaders and elders of the party who participated in the decision making process.

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Unfortunately, the four Governorship aspirants who were earlier disqualified by the National Screening Committee of APGA were conspicuously absent at the venue of the primary election.

They include former Presidential aide, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo, Hon. Chukwuma Umoji (member representing Aguata federal constituency in the House of Representatives), while Hon Cater Umeh and Hon Nonso Smart.
are lawmakers in the state Assembly.

The keenly contested peaceful Governorship primary was held amid tight security as all the delegates conducted themselves in orderly manner devoid of rancour.

Earlier in his opening remarks, chairman of the five man governorahip primary panel, Deacon Samson Segun Olalere described the exercise as an epoch making and peaceful event, describing APGA as a united and disciplined party without Rancour.

He lauded Governor Willie Obiano for providing the enabling environment and effective security that boosted the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Olalere noted that Governorship contest as a family affair had been demonstrated by the delegates through the peaceful accreditation process even as he pointed out that APGA was on course towards a smooth and peaceful Governorship election come November 6th this year.

Meanwhile, the Chief Jude Okeke-led National Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance had announced the suspension of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo from the party for anti-party activities.

The Ag. National Publicity Secretary of the Chief Okeke-led faction, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, stated this while briefing journalists in Abuja.

He said the decision to suspend Soludo, who is a governorship aspirant of the party, was taken late Tuesday night at the meeting of the Party.

He applauded the peaceful and successful ?Special Delegate Ward Congresses where three-member Ward Delegates were elected for the July 1, Governorship primaries of the party.

Chukwunyere said the APGA faction resolved to suspend Soludo due to his activities said to be threatening the unity of the party.

He said, ?The NWC also applauded the members of the party in Anambra State who thronged to the Ward offices across the 326 Wards in the state to elect the three-man Ward delegates who would elect the Governorship candidate of the Party on 1st July, 2021 in line with the provisions of the Party Constitution, INEC Guidelines and the Electoral Act.

?The Party is ready for the July 1 primary election and the winner will lead APGA to victory at the November 6th, 2021 Governorship election.?He described the Governorship primary election held in Awka on Wednesday, June 23, as ?a sham and effort in futility maintaining that in due time, the courts will declare it as invalid, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.?

He said, ?The National Executive Committee of our Party has just finished meeting and has ratified the delegates list for onward submission to INEC in line with the INEC guidelines?

Efforts to get the reaction of Soludo on Wednesday failed as he was faced with the Governorship election in Awka the state capital.