The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has issued additional guidelines for the screening of mayoral aspirants ahead of the 2026 Anambra State Local Government Election Primaries. The directives, released by the National Working Committee (NWC) and signed by National Secretary Comrade Ibrahim D. Mani, aim to ensure a transparent and thorough screening process for all aspirants.
According to the guidelines, a Local Government Election Screening Committee will be appointed by the NWC to oversee the process. The committee, consisting of a chairman, secretary, and three members (including a legal practitioner), will be responsible for scrutinizing all submitted documents to determine aspirants’ eligibility. Only those who meet the statutory requirements will proceed to the next stage of screening.
The second stage, termed the “Stakeholders’ Screening/Selection Process,” will involve an electoral college composed of local stakeholders in each Local Government Area (LGA). This body will select three aspirants from the pool of qualified candidates in each LGA. Where only three or fewer aspirants purchase the Expression of Interest Form, their names will automatically move to the final stage without the stakeholders’ selection.
All serving APGA mayors who purchase the Expression of Interest Form are automatically considered qualified for the final stage of screening. Following the stakeholders’ process, the Local Government Screening Committee will conduct the final screening, with results prominently displayed at the Anambra State Secretariat of the party.
The guidelines emphasize that only aspirants cleared by the Screening Committee, or those whose appeal is upheld by the NWC, will be eligible to contest in the primaries. The process will be conducted using a secret ballot system to ensure fairness and transparency.
The NWC also clarified that despite the additional guidelines, all party rules and regulations remain in effect, but the NWC’s decisions will be final and binding on all aspirants and party members regarding eligibility, participation, and appeals.
Comrade Mani’s announcement marks the beginning of an organized framework for the 2026 Anambra Local Government primaries, reflecting APGA’s commitment to transparent, merit-based, and democratic candidate selection.
