The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dropped the names of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Charles Soludo and Hon. Uche Ekwunife from the names of governorship aspirants vying for the party’s ticket.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the party’s office in Awka, the state chairman, Mr. Emeka Ibe said the action was as a result of fresh information available to it.

He explained that Prof. Soludo was yet to register as a member of the party in his ward adding that the ward is where the journey begins.

“Prof. Charles Soludo is a big friend to the APC Federal Government but he must first register at his ward level before any other thing.

“For Mrs. Uche Ekwunife was just discovered that she might not want to run for this year’s governorship seat in the state.

“For these reasons, we have decided to drop their names from the list of the governorship aspirants in the forthcoming election in the state on the platform of our party.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Chairman had listed Soludo and Ekwunife among the 13 governorship aspirants jostling to fly the party’s flag but in a swift reaction, the former CBN governor released a statement denying membership of the party.

Soludo’s statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in the Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday, January 25, 2017 entitled: Andy Uba, Soludo, others battle for APC Gov ticket” in which the state Chairman of the party was reported to have listed my name among those contesting for the party’s nomination for the Anambra governorship election.

“Since the said publication, I have received hundreds of calls, texts and emails seeking clarification on the matter.

“I also sought and obtained the phone number of the said state chairman and spoke to him in order to ascertain the veracity of the story and he confirmed to me that he was miss-reported.

“Consequently, I wish to clarify that I am not a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and could therefore not be contesting for its party nomination.”

Soludo who was a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspired for the position for the second time in 2014 after joining the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) but was screened out by the then national Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh.

Having failed to grab the ticket of APGA during the last governorship election in the state, Soludo abandoned the political scene and went back to his first love, Economics and making public speech at some high profile occasion.

He is yet to declare any intention to be part of the 2017 governorship race.

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