From Chuks Moses, Awka
The State Working Committee (SWC), of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received a surprise visit from the declared winner of the party’s gubernatorial primary election, Sen. Andy Uba, during its brief meeting in Awka, Anambra State
Recall that 13 of the 14 governorship aspirants in the primaries protested the “fraudulent declaration of a sham result which apparently come from unknown fraudulent source”.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, the leader of the party in the state, expressed displeasure on the outcome, insisting the primary election will be conducted on a later date.
He was on Channels Television, again, on Monday protesting the declaration of Uba as winner.
Rising from a three hour long meeting in Awka on Sunday afternoon, the aspirants led by the former National Auditor of the party, Dr George Moghalu, while briefing journalists emphasized that “there was no primary election in any part of the 326 electoral wards in the state yesterday (Saturday).”
Moghalu said, “It’s very embarrassing that the Anambra state governorship primary committee specially set up by the party headquarters and headed by a sitting governor will come and announce a fake result of an election that did not hold.”
During his surprise visit, Sen. Uba who was declared winner of Anambra State Governorship Primaries appealed to the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party to champion reconciliation with all chapter members to create a smooth path to Anambra State Government House with him as flagbearer.
He pledged to work closely with the SWC, noting that nobody would be shortchanged as everyone is required in the task ahead.
In response Caretaker State Chairman Sir Basil Ejidike, acknowledged that there were hitches and flaws in the process of the primaries, but that the committee sent in by the National Secretariat has concluded its aasignment.
He noted that what the party considers a priority now is “to keep the house together and go into Anambra State Government House”.
Sen Uba, according to the results released by a seven-man panel led by Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State scored over 230,000 to defeat 13 other aspirants.