APC Turns Searchlight On Ngige’s Replacement

APC shops for candidate in Anambra Central fresh poll as Chris Ngige has pulled out

Ahead of the fresh election in Anambra Central senatorial zone in March this year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has turned its searchlight for a candidate to fly the flag of the party.

Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige was the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone and the APC candidate in the March 28, 2015 election, but lost his re-election bid to the PDP standard flag-bearer, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, who will later be sacked by the Appeal court.

But following Ngige withdrawal from the race, as a result of his recent appointment as Minister of Labour and Productivity, the APC in Anambra state has started shopping for a candidate that will fly the flag of the party, Vanguard reports.

Ngige formally announced his withdrawal from the race at an emergency meeting of the state executive members and stakeholders of the party in Awka, following a resolution by the party contained in a six-paragraph statement.

The statement by Ngige and Emeka Ibeh, the state chairman of the party, praised the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu that nullified the Anambra Central senatorial election on March 28, 2015 and ordered fresh poll.

The statement reads: "Our candidate in that last senatorial election is also the incumbent Minister of Labour and Employment. We observe the importance of this national assignment and the scourge of unemployment in the country. We therefore, request our leader and Senator Ngige to continue with his national assignment. He had earlier discharged the function as a credible senator in the 7th Senate.

"Because our party, the APC, is now the party to beat, the party will use its machinery in conjunction with our national party structure to nominate a credible substitute which our leader will now deliver in the 8th Senate." 

Hon. Ekwunife had polled 101548 votes to outsmart her closest rival and Chief Victor Umeh, the national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), who garnered 77129 votes, even as Sen. Ngige of APC got only 20850 votes in the March 28 2015 election.

Announcing the result, Dr. Pius Okoye, the INEC returning officer attested that the poll was free, fair and credible.

However, an appeal sitting in Enugu, nullified the election of Uche Ekwunife, as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, following an appeal filed by Chief Victor Umeh of APGA.

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