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”.