- Buhari support group and 100 CSOs have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over Anambra primaries
- They also petitioned All Progressives Congress and State Security services over the election
- APC had last weekend elected Tony Nwoye as its candidate for the forth-coming gubernatorial election in the state
The Buhari Support Group, Anambra chapter and the coalition of Civil Society Groups have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressive Party, National Security Adviser and the State Security Service (SSS) over the process that produced Tony Nwoye as the party candidate in the forth-coming November election.
NAIJ.com gathered that both groups in their separate petitions called for the review and investigation of the primary elections alleging that Nwoye engaged several sharp malpractices which contravenes electoral act.
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Signing the petition on behalf of Buhari Support Group, the state coordinator, Dr. Emeka Nwaofor and State Secretary, Mrs Stella Obiora, accused Nwoye of financial inducement, swapping of delegates, use of thugs to harass innocent party faithful’s and production of 2700 ID cards in connivance with Governor Willy Obiano in Area 10 shopping mall, Abuja which was used for the swapping of the 2013 delegate list used for the primaries.
The statement reads: "We are ready to bring the owner of the business centre to testify if called upon. If this act is allowed to stand and he is allowed to go ahead, it will send wrong signal that the party abhor impunity and will be the basis that the party will lose at the poll," the petition reads
The CSOs in its petition jointly signed by its president, Comrade Etuk Bassey Wiliams and the Secretary General, Ibrahim Abubakar, accused Nwoye of entering into agreement with Chief Arthur Eze, his godfather that would crippled the economics of the state if he wins.
"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 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," the petition reads.
Both groups also alleged that 2013 delegate 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 4000 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)," they stated.
According to the groups, while there was highly visible electoral malpractice, there is an attempt to undermine the integrity of the party (APC) as the corrupt process that brought the candidate has evident display of huge transfer of cash for the process thus monetizing the whole process in an era of a nation’s effort in the fight against corruption.
They stated further that Nwoye’s men in his PDP days are in the incumbent’s kitchen cabinet and that some Governor Obiano’s group members are found around him to ensure the judicious use of all funds made available by him.
"There was also high rate of anti-party activities by some APC leaders of the state and National that should be investigated; we reliably gathered that a particular leader of the party with ambition for governorship in future aided in playing down stronger candidates to make room for a weaker candidate that will easily compromise the process to pave way for him after Governor Obiano’s second term in a deal they had both agreed upon. It was indeed a harvest of personal interest."
Both groups therefore urged that a panel of inquiry be set to look into the elections while 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.
They stated further that the election be declared null and void with view to calling for a fresh primary elections within the stipulations of the electoral act guidelines for political party primaries, this according to the petition is aimed at detecting the fake delegates used in achieving their set objective.
"That a full investigation be carried out on the allegation of huge cash transfer between Chief Arthur Eze and Tony Nwoye and the allegations of antiparty activities carried out by some state and National Exco be investigated (we shall produce names on request).
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"That to avoid the reoccurrence of Tony’s experience of litigation while he was candidate in PDP in previous Gubernatorial election in the State, this must be handled with great concerns and keen interest for all with emphasis on the source of funds used in prosecuting the plans saw to Nwoye’s emergence and that he should be disqualified totally for anti-party activities and illegal transaction of funds between him and chief Arthur Eze that cannot be accounted for.
"That if time did not permit for a fresh primaries, the party can adhere to their constitution under exigency rule to adopt a consensus candidate that will fly the party‘s flag in the forthcoming election," they demanded.
The groups furthers warned that it would approach the court of competent jurisdiction to compel the party to do the needful if no significant action is taken, saying the party principles should not be undermined and swept under the carpet.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Tony Nwoye emerged winner of the Anambra state APC governorship primary election.
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Wednesday, 30 August 2017