David Eby to be declared BC NDP leader Friday

Amid widespread criticism, the BC NDP is set to announce on Friday that David Eby will be the party’s next leader.

“Following the BC NDP Provincial Executive’s decision, there is one approved candidate in the BC NDP Leadership race,” BC NDP Leadership CEO Elizabeth Cull said in a statement to CityNews.

Eby is set to be declared the party leader at 9:30 a.m.

He is currently running unopposed for the New Democrat leadership after Anjali Appadurai was disqualified by the party’s leadership on Wednesday. This effectively means he will be the province’s next premier, though it’s unclear when exactly that announcement will be made.

Premier John Horgan announced in June that he would be stepping down. At the time, he said he would leave in December.

The NDP executive has said Cull may move up the election date if there is only one leadership candidate.

Appadurai’s disqualification has sparked backlash against the party, with the BC Liberals, BC Greens, and political watchers weighing in on the situation.

“It’s disheartening to see the NDP subvert the democratic process within their leadership contest by terminating the candidacy of the only real challenger to the heir-apparent, David Eby, and slam the door on the thousands of British Columbians who joined the NDP to support Anjali Appadurai,” said BC Liberal MLA Elenore Sturko.

Related articles: 

• BC NDP under fire for disqualification of Anjali Appadurai

• BC NDP disqualifies Anjali Appadurai; David Eby set to be next premier

• BC NDP chief electoral officer wants Appadurai barred from leadership race: report

• Appadurai fights back against ‘undemocratic’ BC NDP report

The BC NDP executive announced late Wednesday that it “voted to support the Chief Electoral Officer’s recommendation to disqualify” Appadurai “as a sanction for violating the rules.”

The recommendations referenced were outlined in a report from Elizabeth Cull and obtained by several media outlets earlier this week. Cull noted that Appadurai had been under investigation for multiple breaches of the party’s rules, with accusations of encouraging BC Green members to leave their party and temporarily join the New Democrats to vote for her.

Claims suggested Appadurai’s camp even offered to pay for new members’ memberships and that she used Dogwood BC’s list to recruit members.

Some experts say the development may negatively affect Eby’s run, adding the turmoil has created a “challenging situation.”

-With files from Martin MacMahon