Eight APC Reps aspirants barred from Anambra primaries after expulsion

No fewer than eight aspirants seeking tickets for the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State will miss the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections following their expulsion from the party.

The affected aspirants were among 30 APC members expelled last week by the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party for allegedly dragging the party to court.

According to the party leadership, the expulsions were in line with the APC constitution, which prohibits members from instituting court actions against the party without exhausting internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

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The APC House of Representatives primary election in Anambra State is scheduled for Friday, while the Senate and State House of Assembly primaries will hold on later dates fixed by the party.

Speaking on the development, the Anambra State APC Chairman, Emma Anosike, said the names of the expelled members had already been forwarded to the national leadership of the party, which subsequently ratified the decision.

Anosike disclosed that about eight of the expelled members had earlier declared interest and obtained nomination forms to contest for House of Representatives seats.

“The constitution of this party says that any member who takes the party to court would be expelled, and about 30 persons have been expelled. And we have already communicated to the national leadership of the party about their expulsion, which they have ratified; and as far as we are concerned, they are no longer members of this party.

“Some of them had declared interests and purchased forms for the House of Representatives primary election but going by their expulsion they are not going to participate in this primary election,” he added.

The APC chairman assured party members that the primary election would be free, fair, and transparent, stressing that the era of imposing candidates had ended.

“The era of imposition of candidates is gone and we are going to conduct a very credible election and it would be done through Option A4,” he said.

According to him, the large number of registered APC members in Anambra State demonstrates the growing strength of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Anosike also explained that while the party would adopt the Option A4 direct primary system in most constituencies, consensus arrangements had already been reached in some areas.

He cited Nnewi North Federal Constituency, where four out of six aspirants reportedly stepped down, as well as Awka North and South constituencies, where discussions among aspirants were ongoing.

Findings indicate that about 27 aspirants are expected to participate in the House of Representatives primary election across the state.

Also speaking, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Ilobi, assured that the party would not tolerate any form of lawlessness during the exercise.

He noted that security operatives had been deployed to ensure the peaceful and transparent conduct of the primaries.

Ilobi further explained that the staggered scheduling of the House of Representatives, Senate, and State Assembly primaries was designed to prevent confusion and ensure proper coordination of the exercises.