A faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Chief Jude Okeke has announced the suspension of Professor Charles Soludo from the party.
Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was is a frontline gubernatorial aspirant for the Anambra governorship election, Naija News reports.
His suspension was announced on Wednesday by the Ag. National Publicity Secretary of the Chief Okeke-led faction, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Chukwunyere explained that Soludo was suspended for anti-party activities, adding that the decision to suspend him was taken late Tuesday night at the meeting 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 3 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 added that the governorship primary election held in Awka on Wednesday, June 23, is “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.”
Further stating that “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”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may technically rule out the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from participating in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for November 6, 2021.
Naija News reports that INEC accused a faction of the party led by Victor Oye of not duly notifying it of the plan to hold ward congresses ahead of the governorship poll within the 21 days recommended by its regulations and Section 85 of the Electoral Act.
INEC has communicated its position on the matter to the faction in two separate letters.
In the first letter, the electoral body addressed its position to the principal counsel of a law firm, Omas and Partners.
The principal counsel had earlier written and asked for the information while relying on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
The second letter was addressed to the National Chairman of APGA.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News