Anambra Electoral Body Clears APGA, YPP For LG Polls

The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that only the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) will participate in the August 29 local government elections in the state.

The Commission’s commissioner for information and publicity, Anthony Chinedu, disclosed this on Friday in Awka, noting that preparations were already underway to ensure a credible exercise.

Chinedu said ANSIEC had released the election timetable and guidelines as far back as September 2025, giving all registered political parties equal opportunity to take part in the process.

“The commission released election timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026 LGA elections in September 2025. It was done with open floor for all political parties in the state to participate,” he said.

He, however, lamented that only APGA and YPP completed the process before the deadline for party primaries elapsed.

“But accidentally, only APGA and YPP participated, while other political parties did not, till the time given for the primaries expired,” he added.

The commissioner questioned the absence of other parties, insisting that those who failed to field candidates had themselves to blame.

“If you believe that you are a registered political party and you have the followers, why did you not venture into the electoral process? Who is to be blamed? As it stands, only APGA and YPP are fielding candidates for the August 29 elections,” he said.

Chinedu assured residents that the poll would be free, fair, and credible, stressing that the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, would not interfere in the process.

“As far as we are concerned, we are not envisaging any challenge. The election is going to be free, fair and credible. Anybody who wins will be declared the true winner by the commission—whether YPP or APGA,” he said.

He further disclosed that arrangements had begun for the procurement of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials needed for the election.

The ANSIEC official, however, raised concerns over growing voter apathy in the state, urging residents to actively participate in the electoral process.

“You see, people don’t understand what it means to go out and vote. Somebody will just say that he didn’t like what the government is doing and, for that, he wouldn’t vote,” he said.

He warned that refusing to vote amounts to indirectly endorsing poor leadership and encouraged eligible voters to use the ballot to express dissatisfaction rather than boycott elections.

LEADERSHIP Meanwhile recalls that APGA swept all chairmanship and councillorship seats in the September 28, 2024, local government elections in the state.