Chief Godwin Ezeno, a House of Assembly aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has called on the leadership of the party to address the complaints of aspirants.
The complaints arise from in the just concluded primaries.
Ezeno, who contested for the party ticket for Aguata 1 Constituency in Anambra, made the call at a news conference in Ekwulobia, Aguata, on Tuesday.
He said most aspirants were disappointed with the way and manner the process was handled.
The aspirant alleged that the party was not in charge of the process but seemed to have left such critical exercise in the hands of one man who determined who got what in Anambra.
The embittered aspirant said his aspiration for a fair contest was dashed, adding that he was still in shock over what happened.
“APGA slogan says ‘Be your brother’s keeper’, we are supposed to be our brothers’ keeper, that is what attracted me and others to APGA but that was not seen in the primary elections.
“The leadership of APGA should sit down and do proper appraisal of how the party’s primary elections were conducted and make necessary corrections, otherwise, APGA is heading for collapse.
“The party was not in charge of what transpired, they did not monitor the process nor showed concern for the way people felt.
“Rather, they left the entire affair to one person who decided the fate of others, I wonder how one man can be more powerful than the party itself,” he said.
On what transpired in Aguata 1 primary, Ezeno said delegates that cast votes were not known to the people, adding that the list of those that emerged from ward congress was not published.
He said the organisers did not commence the process until about 8 p.m when vehicles headlamps were used to illuminate the venue.
“They said the venue was Umuchu but four aspirants said no because it was the village of one of us.
“We advised that it should be moved to a neutral ground but the organisers insisted on Umuchu.
“About 4.30 p.m, we had that the returning officer was changed and by 7.30 p.m, eventually arrived around but nothing started until about 8p.m.
“Armed thugs were everywhere molesting delegates; they sprayed painful gaseous substances which made people to scamper for safety.
“I had to run into my car, I could not vote for myself, supporters perceived to be for some aspirants were not allowed to go into the venue, it was riotous.
“Around 9 p.m, about four vehicles were mobilised to put on their headlamps to illuminate the place, it was quite funny.
“Nobody has officially been declared winner of that primary, though at the venue, they declared a particular person winner but that is not correct, we want to know those that voted in that primary.
“APGA leadership must rise to condemn this impunity; we are still confused as to what happened, how it happened and who did it; people are not just happy.
“I know how much I spent on this election, how loyal I have been to APGA and how hard I have worked for it but here I am, I have been raped, degraded and frustrated,” he said.
Ezeno said though he remained a committed party man, the party handled the issues would determine his political decisions in the future.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Norbert Obi said he could not speak on the issue, when contacted. (NAN)
