Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, on Saturday declared that primary elections within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) can no longer serve as a platform for transactional politics or monetary inducement.
According to him, the party’s stagnation over the years has been largely driven by a culture in which party officials treat the primary election period as an opportunity for personal enrichment, to the detriment of institutional growth and ideological consolidation.
The governor made this assertion at the APGA South-East zonal stakeholders’ meeting held in Awka.
Soludo traced the party’s stunted development since its formation in 2002 to successive leaderships that, in his view, commodified the party by exploiting aspirants during primary elections.
He emphasized that such practices weakened internal democracy, discouraged credible participation, and undermined the party’s long-term viability.
He reiterated that the era of “marketing” party tickets is over, stressing that political parties must function as institutions driven by values, policies, and accountability,not as commercial enterprises.
“How can you fund a party that has no purse, where the treasurer and financial secretary do not retain funds because whatever comes in is immediately shared?”
“The reason the party has not grown is that past leaderships used it as a business venture. That must stop.”he said .
Soludo called for a fundamental reassessment of the party’s trajectory, urging stakeholders to return to first principles and rebuild APGA as a transparent, accountable, and ideologically coherent political platform.
“Our tickets are not for sale. We are rebuilding the party into what a political party should be not a trading post,” he said.
He further noted that many aspirants had been misled in the past by party officials who promised tickets but failed to deliver, often after extracting financial commitments.
Such practices, he argued, erode trust and discourage genuine investment in the party.
According to Soludo, when a political party is perceived as a profit-making venture, individuals who feel exploited are unlikely to contribute meaningfully to its growth.
“If someone sells property to fund their ambition and is subsequently abandoned, they cannot be expected to remain committed to the party,” he added.
He warned that the era of “give-and-take” politics within APGA is over, stressing that the party must now serve the collective interest rather than a narrow elite.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of APGA, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, announced an 11-point code of conduct to guide future primary elections.
He explained that the new framework is designed to ensure transparency, equity, and internal democracy, addressing longstanding disputes that have historically plagued the party’s nomination processes.
Ezeokenwa also disclosed that the party will adopt the Option A4 voting system an open ballot method for the 2026 primaries, noting that it enhances transparency and accountability.
“In the past, APGA has faced numerous challenges arising from flawed primary elections. These issues have significantly undermined the party, hence the need for clear rules and regulations,” he said.
He outlined key provisions of the code, including:
A ban on party officials from ward to national levels wearing campaign materials or accepting gifts from aspirants.
The elimination of upfront nomination form payments; only a fee for expression of interest will be required initially, with nomination fees payable only after successful screening.
A prohibition on party officials attending endorsement or declaration events held in private residences, restricting such activities to official party offices.
A ban on party officials endorsing aspirants; any official wishing to openly support a candidate must temporarily step aside from their position.
Ezeokenwa further revealed that the National Working Committee (NWC) has prohibited aspirants from distributing money or gifts during primaries, warning that violations could lead to disqualification.
“Even the presentation of money under the guise of kola nut or gift-sharing has been banned,” he stated.
Earlier, the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Augustine Ehiemere, highlighted inadequate funding as a major impediment to the party’s growth.
“Political activities require logistics. Mobilization requires resources, and party administration requires funding. Without it, offices cannot function, mobilization cannot be sustained, and campaigns cannot be competitive,”
“Funding is not just a factor it is the foundation.”he said.
Ehiemere called on elected and appointed officials who rose through the party’s platform to take greater responsibility for its financial sustainability.
“You did not rise to your position in a vacuum; you rose on the platform of APGA. Now the party needs you. We are not here to beg we are here to build,”
“We are appealing for a structured and consistent financial commitment to the party’s growth. If you strengthen the party, the party will protect your future.”he said.
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