Awka North APGA Leaders Reject State Assembly Primary Election Result, Demand Soludo’s Intervention

By Praise Chinecherem

Executive members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka North Local Government Area have rejected results announcing Ekegbue Emmanuel as winner of Awka North Constituency primary election for House of Assembly ticket.

The executives, including ward chairmen and secretaries called for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention by ordering a rerun of the election which they described as daylight robbery.

Results of the election already circulated on social media showed that incumbent lawmaker, Ikwunne Chimezie scored 1,633, while Ekegbue Emmanuel polled 4,721 and was declared winner.

Speaking on behalf of the party executive, Local Government chairman, James Onwuka insisted that Ikwunne who he described as popular was massively voted by party members in the election.

He alleged hijack of the process as well as manipulation an submission of results in most communities where election did not take place.

He listed the wards where elections did not hold but results announced to include Ugbenu, Awba Ofemili, Amansea, Mgbakwu, Amanuke, among others.

According to him, it was impossible for Ikwunne’s rivalry to win in a transparent and credible poll in view of his unpopularity, stressing the risk of fielding him as party candidate in the main election.

Awka North’s request
He said, “We the entire people of Awka North appeal to Mr Governor, Oluatuegwu, to ensure the return of the incumbent house member because he represented us well.

“If you can’t return him for the second term, we appeal you send another person to conduct a rerun for Awka North election.

“If you conduct a rerun in the affected wards and the man that was given over 4,000 votes gets over 40 percent of the votes in Awka North, we’ll all resign as a punishment for lying to you.

“The man said to have won is not a popular candidate and not known by party members.

“The rerun is important to avert rubbishing future elections in the area, especially the 2027 general election.

“Let people not out of anger vote against the party in the next year election.

“Apart from changing the returning officers, let the election materials be distributed by non-indigenes so the truth prevails.

“We are the hierarchy of the party in the local government. What you see here are chairmen and secretaries of the 14 ward of Awka North LG, as well as woman and youth leaders.

The incumbent lawmaker could not be reached for his reaction on the matter, but a party source told our correspondent that he had filed a petition to the party’s appeal panel, challenging Ekegbue’s victory.