APGA Primaries In Imo Ends In Shambles Over Failure of NWC not to hold election
……….May not have candidate for November 11 Guber election
The Governorship Primaries Of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) in imo state scheduled to hold on Sunday 16th November 2023 could not hold as angry youths and delegates distracted the process as a result of the Disqualification Of one of the aspirants ,Dr Ngozi Aririguzo by the National Working Committee of the party against the wishes of the delegates across the 27 LGA of the state.
The youths destroyed valuables properties of APGA and the State Chariman was arrested by the police when they learnt that Mr. Toney Ejiogu was intended to imposed on them.
Dr Aririguzo while addressing the press when they visited the party office, the supposed venue of the election and discovered that the party office was in disarray, Dr Ngozi Aririgozu who was visibly aggreived Said Aririguzo said she paid 10million for the Form and NWC fees and wondered why she should not be allowed to participate in the Primary
for the party waiver after been told that another aspirant has purchased the form before her,. she went further to state that, she waited for the screening process but was never invited by the National office for the screening till the eve of the primaries when she was told by the party’s National publicity Secretary Ifeanyi Mbaeri via WhatsApp message that the waiver she applied for was not successful which she said was not officially declared to her by the party.
Aririgozu, a one time publicity Secretary of APGA, former House of Assembly candidate and a former commissioner in Imo state, said she has experience in governance and has the capability to lead Imo state and wondered why she was been disqualified.
She noted that her coming into the party even made lots of people from other parties decamp to APGA for purpose of making sure she emerged victoriously at the November 11 Guber poll in Imo state.
The aspirant however says she is still in the race and will seek redress If someone is declared winner without the normal party primary.
The state chairman of the party John Iwuala while speaking with the press claims to be unaware about the election been conducted elsewhere and told newsmen that he has no hand in the plight of the aspirant as no political party gives the chairman the authority to conduct elections.
However he blamed the National working committee of the party for faluire to handle the matter in an amicable way.
He noted that the two aspirants should have been invited for a peaceful resolution before the conduct of the primaries and further adviced the National body to give room for free and fair elections instead of giving room for disruption of the process.
Meanwhile one of the delegates who will not want his name mentioned, said that, they will not accept any candidate they have not supported or vote for anymore. He further to say, that all the delegates are ready to endorse Dr. Ngozi Aririguzo as their party flag bearer of the NWC refused to do the needful.
