The gubernatorial ambition of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, reached a cul-de-sac on Saturday night when the Governorship Appeal Panel of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ruled that he stands disqualified.
Determined to realize his ambition of governing Anambra state, Prof Soludo recently decamped from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
But, the party’s Governorship Screening Committee headed by Tayo Sowunmi, had on Friday announced the disqualification of the former CBN Governor and five other aspirants. It was learnt that some of the aspirants could not produce voters’ card and tax clearance certificate.
Others who were also disqualified were the immediate past Secretary to Anambra State Government Oseloka Obaze, Nweke, Ogbuefi Tony Nnaechetta, Chinedu Francis Idigo and Dr. Chike Obidigbo.
Briefing newsmen at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the chairman of the Appeal Panel, Tony Ojielo, said the aspirants submissions before the panel lack merit thus, upholding the decision of the screening committee that disqualified them.
“We have listened to their appeals but their appeals lack merit and so the Committee had no other option than to affirm their disqualification,” Ojielo said.
The seven aspirants earlier cleared by the screening committee have also been affirmed by the appeal committee. They are Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Nwogbo, Paul Odenigbo, Uche Lillian Ekwunife, Willie Obiano, John Nwosu, John Okechukwu Emeka and Nwachi Patrick Obianwu.