Anambra: INEC almost destroyed democracy by excluding Soludo

The All Progressives Grand Alliance has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for publishing the names of Chukwuma Soludo and Onyekachikwu Ibezim as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party respectively for the November 6, 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election.

The party also said INEC almost destroyed the nation’s democracy with the initial exclusion of Soludo from the list of candidates in the forthcoming poll.

APGA was reacting to the replacement of Michael Umeoji with Soludo as the governorship candidate of the party.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, had announced the removal of Umeoji and the inclusion of Soludo as APGA candidate.

Okoye had also said the final list of candidates that would contest the Anambra poll would be published on October 7.

Reacting in a statement titled, ‘APGA Commends INEC, Congratulates Soludo, Ibezim’, the party expressed joy that “after several weeks of suspense and confusion INEC had brought some respite by obeying the Kano Court of Appeal judgment”.

In the statement signed by APGA National Publicity Secretary, Tex Okechukwu, the party, however, regretted that “INEC almost destroyed the nation’s democracy by publishing the name of somebody who had no business being there in the first place, thanking God for his mercy and love”.

It congratulated millions of its supporters for their steadfastness, courage and loyalty to APGA.

“We thank our numerous supporters, well-wishers and friends across party lines for standing by us throughout the trying period.

“Together we will work to repeat the 21/21 record we set in 2017 because our government in Anambra State has performed creditably,” the statement concluded.