Automatic Ticket For Ojukwu’s Son Tears APGA Apart

      
National Chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh and Goevrnor Willie Obiano have been pleaded with to stop automatic tickets to some Aspirants, even non aspirants in the 2015 general elections as it would reduce the chances of the party.

This is because the purported automatic ticket offered to the son of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Emeka, to run for the Nnewi North/South / Ekwusigo House of Representatives seat by the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has become a subject of controversy among party members.
 Addressing newsmen in Awka yesterday, erstwhile commissioner in the administration of former Governor Peter Obi, Okoli Akirika, flayed the endorsement, describing it as undemocratic.
Akirika, a lawyer, who acknowledged that the late Igbo leader deserved some privileges and concessions because of what he stood for, however, said before such privileges could be accorded him, it ought to be discussed and agreed by members.
He said the automatic endorsement of Ojukwu for the seat was a misrepresentation of intent as the party had caused some aspirants to purchase forms and embark on electioneering activities, believing that there would be level playing ground for all contestants only to be told that the position had been ‘reserved’ for somebody.
The former commissioner also criticized some actions of the party that could bring about catastrophic consequences. He said the party’s 2014 electoral guidelines violated many sections of APGA constitution and extant laws.
“For instance, the guidelines in its preamble clause said in the event of any conflict between APGA constitution and the guidelines, that the guidelines would prevail” that would amount to standing the law on its head, a guideline should be inferior to the constitution. He said the guidelines lacked legitimacy, having been signed by the national legal adviser rather than the national secretary of the party, who is constitutionally authorised to sign documents on behalf of the party.
Contending further, Akirika said Article 10 (4) of the party’s constitution recommended a 10-man state delegates’ congress while the guidelines reduced it to three, an act which he described as unconstitutional, undemocratic and exclusionary. He called on APGA leadership to redress the situation to save the party from the impending electoral jeopardy in the 2015 polls.

New Telegraph