The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has given one month’s notice to political parties for the forthcoming Anambra South senatorial bye-election.
The Commission made this statement at its fourth regular quarterly meeting of political parties, held at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja on October 18, 2024.
Prof. Mahmood hinted that the Commission would give political parties one month’s notice from the day of its official announcement to present candidates for the bye-election.
The election is part of the race to replace the senator representing Nnewi South Senatorial District, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who suddenly passed away.
Meanwhile, the race to fill the void created by the death of Ifeanyi Ubah has commenced in earnest amongst political parties.
Aspirants have been seen sneaking in and out of Abuja, the seat of power, to extract commitment or approval from the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Chairman of their various parties.
Pundits opine that replacing Ebubechukwuzo Nnewi will be a three-way contest between the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP).
Political analysts, regardless, believe that the contest presents an opportunity for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to spring a surprise.
However, others think that the APC has the potential to snatch the seat from the ruling APGA government at Agu Awka.
Sources within the ruling party revealed to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) that the party gave Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo the task of working towards the emergence of an APC Senator to test his capacity and as a precondition for him to join the party.
It was learnt that the party feels that this is the best way to honor Ifeanyi Ubah, since APC was his last known party.
They also reportedly believe that in retaining the seat, the party will remain relevant in preparation for the governorship poll which comes up on November 8, 2025.
DDM was reliably informed that it is this subtle agreement between Gov. Soludo and the APC, as well as other accompanying precondition, that influenced his decision not to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.
The above notwithstanding, the Chief Njoku-led APGA is the only constitutionally authorized and recognized leadership that can field a candidate for APGA in the coming Anambra South Senatorial bye-election.
