Erstwhile candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Anambra Central, Senator Chris Ngige, will not be part of the re-run ballot ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the state chapter of the party has said. Ngige, who previously served as Senator for the zone, was among those beaten last March 28 by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but her victory was nullified by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu on December 7, 2015 and a fresh poll ordered to be conducted within 90 days.

Anambra APC said Friday at a meeting in Awka that Ngige, who is now the Minister of Labour and Employment, would not contest the rescheduled senatorial election but assured that a credible candidate that would win the election would contest the election place of Ngige.

At the meeting which had Ngige in attendance, the party applauded the nullification of the March 28, 2015 election in view of massive irregularities, arguing that it fell below the minimum standard of election as provided in the Electoral Act.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the duo of Dr. Ngige and the state chairman of APC, Mr. Emeka Ibe read: “We praise the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu nullifying the election of Anambra Central senatorial zone held March 28, 2015.

“Our candidate in that senatorial election is also the incumbent Minister of Labour and Employment. We observe the importance of this national assignment and the scourge of unemployment in the country and we therefore request our leader and the immediate past senator for our zone, Dr. Chris Ngige, to continue with his national assignment. He had earlier discharged the function as a credible senator in the seventh senate.

“Because our party, APC, is now the party to beat, the party will use its machinery in conjunction with our national party structure, to nominate a credible substitute which our leader will now deliver into the 8th senate.”

Earlier while addressing the party officials, Senator Ngige said the meeting had to be convened because many people had been asking him if he would contest.

“The options are there and they include whether I will continue as a minister, or step down as minister to contest so we can win the election, or should we look for another candidate from among us. It therefore requires that the party arrive at a better decision, considering the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari wants me to assist in tackling the high unemployment rate in the country, a process that has already begun,” he said.

The minister noted that APC would participate in the election and win based on the fact that the people of Anambra State have realised that they sinned against APC and are willing to make amends by voting for the party in the rescheduled senatorial election for Anambra Central.

The meeting, which was well attended by the party faithful, ended without any hint as to who Ngige’s replacement would be.

•Photo shows Senator Ngige.