More reactions on Wednesday in Abuja continued to trail the outcome of the recent primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November governorship election in Anambra State over alleged malpractices.

While the Buhari Support Group, Anambra state chapter, which has over 30 affiliates, rejected the exercise and urged the appeal panel to critically look into the anomalies or it would mobilise members to support another candidate, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) threatened to “seek redress in court” to compel APC to declare the election which produced Tony Nwoye null and void.

The BSG’s position was contained in a petition to APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, signed by its Anambra State Coordinator, Dr. Emeka Nwaofor, and Secretary, Chief (Mrs) Stella Obiora.

CCSG’s threat was contained in its petition to the Director-General of Department of State Security Service (DSS), Mamman Daura, signed by its President, Etuk Bassey Wiliams, and Secretary-General, Ibrahim Abubakar and obtained by journalists on Wednesday.

The coalition therefore demanded a total re-verification of the delegates list as used in the primary election for authentications through a confirmation process.

CCSG said: “We wish to conclude in expectation of justice that if no significant step or action is taken we shall approach a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the party to do the needful. The party principles should not be undermined and swept under the carpet. Elections are for people that have good pedigree and justify their capabilities. They must have track records of achievements and not self-seeking individuals who have maintained the role of spoilers in every election. We assure you of our readiness to provide all necessary evidences with respect to all the allegations contained in this petition as we attach overleaf copies of some evidences.

“A panel of inquiry should be set to look into the elections. There should be total re-verification of the delegates list as used in the primary elections for authentications through a confirmation process by the known state structure of the party with national EXCO maintaining the observers status.

“This document contains the facts of the horse trading between Tony Nwoye and Chief Arthur Eze with a design to mortgage the future of Anambra State. Sir, it might surprise you that the said billionaire had entered into a written agreement with Tony Nwoye to fund his campaign to the tune of Five Hundred Million Naira in exchange for 30 per cent of the state internally generated revenue and slot for 20 commissioners in his cabinet if elected as Governor of the State in the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in the State, an allegation that deserve thorough investigation as the said sum is in great disparity with the provisions of the amended 2015 electoral act which is still in force.

“It is also bothersome that there is an existing relationship between the current Governor of Anambra State, Dr Willy Obiano and Chief Arthur Eze which invariably suffice an attempt for Arthur Eze and Tony Nwoye to negotiate the State out to the incumbent Governor as it is obvious that a Chief Arthur Eze who is handling an Airport construction project that runs into billions of Naira by the state be the sponsor of APC candidate. This calls for questions as it is glaring that the funds from that project is to be used in ensuring the eventual emergence of a weaker candidate for the major opposition party APC as a means for soft landing for the incumbent’s second term bid. This has a traceable antecedent as the same Arthur Eze claimed to have bankrolled Nwoye’s election 4 years ago when he was in PDP. This was despite long term legal battle over forged tax clearance which lasted till a few days to the election before the Court of Appeal delivered judgment in his favour after his billionaire godfather had spent so much on the tussle. All this he did as a friend to Tony Nwoye.

“There was another fundamental observation on the issues of delegate swap which reflect the highest level of electoral fraud as funds was used. It is shameful that 2013 delegates list was approved for the election when most of the names have decamped and some dead. But in the bid to further their heinous plans they went ahead to adopt a 4,000 delegates list that they claimed was intact, which however led to the flooding of the primary with APGA imposter recruited as delegates of APC a party that encourages credible elections; handed with fake identity cards by the incumbent Governor and the said APC candidate (Nwoye), this made a mockery of APC as it watched the plans of incumbent hatched in her own nest, the smooth emergence of Nwoye was a complete game plan of his Godfather Chief Arthur Eze and the incumbent which infringed on the rights of some authentic delegates of APC.

“It is known overtime that APC as a party have tried to achieve free fair and credible elections devoid of monetisation as dominant in the recently concluded primary elections for Anambra APC and if unchecked will lead the way to the party’s total collapse most especially in the southeast zone which will spell doom for the party in their future engagements politically.”

The Buhari Support Group said as members of the APC loyal to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the APC has a good chance of defeating incumbent governor, Obiano because of the Buhari factor, adding that “but with the emergence of Tony Nwoye, the party will lose out.”

The group said: “As loyal members of the APC who participated in the last gubernatorial primaries of our dear state, we write to call for review of the process that produced Tony Nwoye as the candidate of the party in the forth coming November election.

“Our reason for this generational call is borne out of sharp malpractices which contravene the electoral act perpetrated by him, which include but not limited to financial inducement and swapping of delegates.

“Another reason behind our call that the process should be reviewed is the caliber of his main sponsor. His sponsor, Chief Arthur Eze is a sworn enemy of Mr. President as we all know he was a major sponsor of the former President Jonathan and he once swore that he will never support our amiable party. We are thus taken aback when same man is now sponsoring same candidate that he sponsored in 2013 with aim of amassing wealth.

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