APGA fights over Anambra PDP’s multiple candidates

Aggrieved members of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, led by Senator Alphonsus Igbekwe described as illegal and undemocratic the multiple candidates allegedly being presented by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Anambra State for the next month’s general elections.

Igbeke, who is the Director-General of the 2015 APGA election Campaign Directorate, condemned a recent statement credited to the national secretary of the PDP, Professor Olawale Oladipo, directing all the multiple candidates of the party to go with their electioneering campaigns in Anambra State.

He said Oladipo’s statement was in conflict with the law recently enacted by the Anambra State House of Assembly forbidding persons whose names were in contravention of the Electoral Act which empowered Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to publish successful candidates after primaries ahead of the election in the state.

Igbeke said “available statistics, for all Nigerians to see, indicate that presently, even after the conclusion of the primaries, PDP is still presenting three candidates each for all elective positions at all levels to the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate respectively, whereas other law abiding political parties are complying with the relevant electoral laws by fielding only one candidate each.

“This, if allowed, gives a law breaking political party undue advantage. Recall that the INEC Voting sheet does not bear the candidate’s names but rather the party’s name and logo. A scenario whereby, for instance, the three PDP candidates contesting for Anambra North Senatorial zone garners votes instead of only one and they all vote for PDP is unfair, fraudulent and places other party candidates at a disadvantage abinitio. This, we will not allow to happen.”