YPP Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Polls, Urges INEC to Probe Soludo’s Expenditure

By Tony Okafor, Awka

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, free and fair governorship election in Anambra State while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s financial expenditure and alleged irregularities ahead of the November 8 poll.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu, Spokesman and Media Director of the Sir Paul Chukwuma Campaign Council, the party said it had so far conducted its campaigns with civility and a clear focus on governance issues.

It noted that the YPP entered the governorship race to offer Ndi Anambra a credible alternative and not to engage in distractions or political mudslinging.

According to the statement, Governor Soludo had failed to justify the enormous revenues managed in over three years on behalf of the people of Anambra State.

It alleged that between January and June this year alone, the state government collected over ₦150 billion as FAAC allocation and over ₦60 billion as local government allocations, without corresponding development across the 21 local government areas.

The party also accused the state government of failing to address insecurity in the state until the election year, citing the belated launch of Operation Udo Ga Chi as an afterthought following years of attacks and loss of lives and property.

Onyekwelu said the YPP candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma, was offering Ndi Anambra a new vision anchored on the HIS Agenda—Human Capital Development, Infrastructure Development and Security.

He said the message from Sir Paul Chukwuma and his running mate, Uzu Okagbue, was that Anambra deserves better, adding that the people were already responding positively to the party’s campaign.

He further urged eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the election, expressing confidence that the people would deliver a verdict of no confidence on the current administration through the ballot.

Onyekwelu however demanded that INEC ensure a level playing field for all parties by curbing the activities of armed groups allegedly sponsored by the state government and ensuring compliance with electoral spending limits.

He also called on the commission to investigate alleged vote buying by the ruling party during recent by-elections in the state.

He said INEC must demonstrate an impeccable commitment to its own rules to inspire confidence among political actors and voters, adding that such credibility would naturally influence compliance and help guarantee a free, fair and credible election on November 8