10/09/2017
FRESH TWIST IN ANAMBRA GUBER POLL.
A new twist in the All Progressives Congress
(APC) is putting its chances in the
November Anambra governorship election
under threat.
The party is about determining who will fly
its flag in the election, despite Hononourable
Tony Nwoye’s victory in the party’s primary
election conducted in Akwa the state capital,
on August 26.
Petitions arising from the election have been
concluded by the appeals panel and
submitted to the National Working
Committee (NWC) last Friday, Sunday
Tribune was informed by an informed
source.
The report slated for consideration this week
has, however, split the NWC members.
In equal numbers, both pro and anti-Nwoye
candidacy groups are now reportedly
scheming to get their positions through with
the NWC.
Though a date is yet to be fixed for the all-
important meeting, Sunday Tribune was
reliably informed that the NWC meeting is
likely on Wednesday.
Though the content of the report was not
made known to Sunday Tribune, moves are
said to be gathering momentum to nullify
Nwoye’s victory for a re-run.
Nwoye, 42, currently representing Anambra/
Anambra West constituency at the National
Assembly, polled 2,146 votes to beat Senator
Andy Uba who got 931 votes, George
Moghalu, 525, and nine others to the ticket.
A member of the NWC ,who spoke with
Sunday Tribune, said he was for the
retention of Nwoye as the party’s flag-
bearer. He however confirmed some of his
colleagues are for nullification and re-run.
A snippet from the appeals panel report
suggested that the processes leading to
Nwoye’svictory fell short of acceptable
standards in certain areas.
The primary election was supervised by
Borno State governor, KashimShettima.
As of press time, NWC members were
reportedly being seriously lobbied by
supporters of Nwoye and his closest
challenger, Uba.
A couple of political groups had called on
the party leadership to void Nwoye’s
candidacy, to forestall imminent loss at the
November poll.
It was also learnt that plans are afoot by
some interests to approach courts in Abuja
early this week, to seek an injunction which
would stop the party’s NWC from
considering the appeal committee’s report or
tampering with Nwoye’s candidacy.
A senior lawyer confirmed to Sunday Tribune
that litigation was in the offing and some
NWC members were already aware of it.
The injunction move is likely on Monday, a
member of the NWC confided in Sunday
Tribune.
The member also disclosed that the raging
issue of President Muhammadu Buhari’s
possible second term in 2019 was not listed
on the body’s agenda, but could be brought
up under the A.O.B (Any Other Business)
item.
The controversial statement by the Minister
of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan
regarding her loyalty to Vice-President Atiku
Abubakar instead of Buhari, was also not
listed for consideration at the meeting, the
source disclosed.
The NWC member didn’t ,however, rule out a
mention under A.O.B.
According to the source, “I am surprised
about the noise being generated by her
(Alhassan) statement. APC has a lot of
tendencies making it up. Everybody cannot
support same person. In fact, in the party,
we try to side-step issues like this, in order
not to appear partial. She didn’t do anything
wrong. I will prefer the party leadership
meeting Atiku privately over his statement
that Buhari has sidelined him after helping
him to win the presidency. Many others are
still in the system, supporting other
presidential aspirants only that they are not
talking like the woman [Alhassan]. The party
will surely get round the matter”.
Credit: Tribune
