The Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming local government election set for September 28th, 2024. The party is also suing the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) and the State House of Assembly, citing irregularities in the electoral process, and is asking the court to nullify the election if it proceeds.
The APC argued that participating would legitimize “illegality,” referencing Section 23(1) of the ANSIEC Law 2024, which they claim is inconsistent with the Electoral Act 2022. They seek a court order to prevent ANSIEC from holding the election under the current law.
At a stakeholders’ meeting, APC Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike stated that the party would not participate due to the lack of sufficient time for primaries and the absence of a fair and credible process, accusing Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of being unprepared to ensure transparency. Ejidike added that the APC, along with other opposition parties like the PDP and Labour Party, had gone to court over the matter. He also announced the party’s upcoming tour across the 21 local government areas in preparation for the 2025 governorship election.