** Soludo returns for APGA
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state, about seven political parties have substituted the governorship candidates.
A statement issued Thursday by INEC, indicated that the Commission has received a new names from the seven political parties to substitute the ones they earlier submitted.
Also substituted were eleven deputy governorship candidates, even as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was conspicuously missing in the list of twelve political parties with candidates for the election.
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) Charles Chukwuma Soludo, was however listed as candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance ,( APGA), following an appeal court order.
According to the Commission, the political parties that substituted their governorship and deputy governorship candidates are Accord, Action Alliance (AA), Africa Action Congress (AAC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which substituted due to Court Order.
Other parties that substituted its deputy governorship candidates are; All Progressives Congress (APC), APM, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
INEC noted that Timetable and Schedule of activities approved by the Commission on 18th January 2021 provides for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in line with Sec. 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). adding that “by the deadline of 30th July 2021 as fixed by the Commission, seven (7) Governorship and eleven (11) Deputy Governorship candidates were substituted by eleven (11) out of the eighteen (18) political parties”
INEC stated further that the Commission was served with the judgement of the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) which set aside the judgement of the High Court of Jigawa State on the leadership of APGA and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.
“However, the final list of candidates will be published on 7th October 2021 as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.” The Commission stated
