APC Withdraws from Anambra LG Polls, Heads to Court

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has withdrawn from the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
The elections, slated for September 28, 2024, and the first in 11 years since former Governor Peter Obi conducted one during the twilight of his administration.
The party added that it has also dragged Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and the state House of Assembly to court.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr. Basil Ejidike, who addressed local government and ward party chairmen in Awka, the state capital, yesterday stated that participating in the election would amount to legalising an illegality.
Ejidike said the APC under his leadership would not be involved in the election because ANSIEC and Governor Soludo are not ready to conduct the exercise in a free, fair and credible manner.

“The governor has already set up a tribunal at the Anambra State High Court, here in Awka for political parties that wish to challenge the outcome of the election.
Governor Soludo is not transparently prepared to give Ndi-Anambra an accountable local government system.

“We are already in the court to challenge the process because APC, being a major opposition party in Anambra State, must try as much as possible to live by example. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have also gone to court to challenge the irregularities. We applaud them,” he stated.
Ejidike, while urging members to remain focused, announced that the party would soon commence a tour of the 21 local government areas as part of preparation for the 2025 governorship election in the state.

The party held a minute’s silence in honour of the late Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, who was a frontline governorship aspirant of the party before his death.