The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has named the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
In a list of governorship and deputy governorship candidates that was signed by the Secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony and released recently, candidates of 12 parties were named except that of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In another statement, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, disclosed that the commission met recently and discussed several issues, including the nomination of candidates for the election which will hold on November 6, 2021.
While recognising Soludo as APGA’s candidate, Okoye said: “The commission was served with the judgement of the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) which set aside the judgement of the High Court of Jigawa State on the leadership of APGA and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.”
While talking about why INEC dropped the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Valentine Ozigbo, in the updated list published, Okoye said the commission had, in line with section 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), scheduled July 31, 2021, as the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the Anambra poll.
He said: “By the deadline, seven governorship and 11 deputy governorship candidates were substituted by 11 out of the 18 political parties.”
He added that the final list of candidates would be published on October 7, 2021, as provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.
