APGA faces internal crisis ahead of Anambra LG elections

Ahead of the upcoming local government elections in Anambra State, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is facing internal turmoil.

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) recently confirmed its readiness to conduct the much-anticipated local government polls, the first in 10 years since the last one overseen by former governor Peter Obi.

The election, scheduled for September 28, has already sparked concerns among various political parties. While some, like the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), have expressed dissatisfaction with the election process, others are contemplating boycotts or legal action against the state government.

However, APGA, the state’s ruling party, is grappling with significant internal crises, including factionalism and allegations of disenfranchisement of potential candidates.

The party is currently split between two factions: one led by Governor Chukwuma Soludo and APGA National Chairman Barr Sly Ezeokenwa, and another led by Edozie Njoku, who claims legitimacy based on a Supreme Court ruling. The Njoku faction has even established a separate party secretariat in Anambra, drawing interest from party members eager to contest in the local government elections.

Recently, the state government moved to seal the Njoku faction’s office, citing zoning violations. This action has been criticized as an attempt to intimidate the faction.

Meanwhile, the Soludo-aligned faction has restricted the sale of nomination forms, reportedly allocating them solely to current transition committee chairmen and their teams, effectively barring other interested aspirants.

Governor Soludo, however, has downplayed the situation, describing it as a minor internal dispute that will soon be resolved.

He assured that APGA remains strong and stable, attributing the current issues to normal pre-election tensions. Soludo emphasized that APGA has been instrumental in the state’s progress and expressed confidence that the party will remain unified.