Critical stakeholders in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State have called for due process to be observed in the forthcoming Local Government primaries, saying they need to see beyond the crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
A leading stakeholder who pleaded anonymity said, as a matter of fact, anything short of allowing the will of the people to prevail will spell doom in Nnewi North.
He pointed out that he heard that the leadership of the party has endorsed an unpopular candidate to fly the APGA flag in Nnewi North Local Government Area.
“It is just few hours to the primaries and it is not too late to correct such anomaly if it is true that such a development has happened.
“The Nnewi North LGA APGA Chairman, Hon. Tony Muodielo (Klassic) told to the party executives that “Awka” has anointed a candidate in the person of one Mr Echezona Anazodo to which all the executives of the party roundly rejected him.
“Their rejection of the said candidate is based on his antecedent of disloyalty to the party.
“The party Chairman was said to have claimed that the name of Mr. Echezona Anazodo was given to him to be imposed on the party at the Ward/LG Congress billed to take place in Nnewi North on Tuesday the 27th of August 2024.
“Nnewi people are democrats and will not want outsiders to impose any candidate on them for any position.
“We have demonstrated this in the election of Nsuko-Ora Nnewi leadership, all the candidates are always given free level playing ground, and whoever that emerges is accepted, by Ndi Nnewi.
“The stakeholders in Nnewi met few days ago and after interacting with the candidates came up with a position, it shocking that certain elements will run to Awka and plan a coup of imposing an unpopular candidate on the people.
“I want to believe that it is one of those political gimmicks of names dropping which politicians are known for, I just hope that whoever that is flying the kite that a winner has emerged before the primary will not occasion protest vote in Nnewi on September 28,”he stressed.
He also, called on the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who he described as a thorough bred democratic to allow the wish of Nnewi people count in the LGA polls.
“I wish to let Mr Governor know that critical stakeholders like Chief Gabriel Chukwuma (Gabros), Chief Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson), Anambra State Commissioner for Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu and many others have put in so much to ensure fair play.
“I am crying like a Prophet in the wilderness now, Nnewi has her own peculiarities which must be respected, APGA is not the only political party contesting in the LGA polls, a word should be enough for the wise,” he concluded.