The exercise was also rejected by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, with over 30 affiliates.
The coalition, therefore, demanded a total re-verification of the delegates’ list as used in the primary for authentication through a confirmation process.
While the BSG urged the appeal panel to critically look into the anomalies or it would mobilise its members to support another candidate, the CCSG threatened to seek redress in court to compel the APC to declare the election which produced Tony Nwoye null and void.
The BSG’s position was contained in a petition to the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, signed by its Anambra State Coordinator, Dr. Emeka Nwaofor, and Secretary, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obiora, while CCSG’s threat was contained in its petition to the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mamman Daura, signed by its President, Etuk Bassey Wiliams, and Secretary-General, Ibrahim Abubakar.
The 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’s principles should not be undermined and swept under the carpet.
“Elections are for people who have good pedigree and can 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 the necessary evidence with respect to all the allegations contained in this petition as we attached overleaf copies of some pieces of evidence.”
The BSG, on its part, said as members of the APC loyal to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the party had a good chance of defeating the incumbent governor, Willy Obiano, because of the “Buhari factor,” adding that “but with the emergence of Tony Nwoye, the party will lose out.”
The group added, “Our reason for this generational call is borne out of malpractices which contravene the electoral act perpetrated by him [Nwoye] which include but not limited to financial inducement and swapping of delegates.”
The BSG also alleged that thugs were used to harass “innocent” party faithful while 2,700 identity cards were produced in connivance with officials of Anambra State in Area 10 Shopping Mall, Abuja, “which were used for the swapping of the 2013 delegates’ list used for the primary.”
While accusing Nwoye of allegedly blackmailing Buhari on several occasions in Anambra State before he defected to the APC, the group alleged that he was being sponsored by a multi-billionaire and an alleged “sworn enemy” of President Buhari who allegedly worked against him in the 2015 general election.
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