NDP Chieftain Asks Court To Stop Anambra Election

Source: Independent Newspaper Published:Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

THE ANAMBRA State Governorship ballot scheduled for February 6 may be stopped today when the Abuja Federal High Court delivers judgment in the suit filed by National Democratic Party (NDP) Governorship aspirant, Donatus Okonkwo.

Okonkwo alleged unlawful exclusion and substitution of his name by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Last week, the court restrained the INEC and the NDP from “preparing for the election by implementing the INEC time table and schedule of activities released by the first defendant, printing ballot papers, holding and or conducting the February 6, 2010 Anambra Governorship election without the plaintiff as the candidate of the NDP, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The NDP had submitted Okonkwo’s name to the INEC on October 8 last year, but he later accused the party of substituting him for another person.

Okonkwo told Daily Independent that he had noticed that his name was missing in the publication of the list of candidates whose forms were with the INEC on January 7, two months after the deadline for substitution of candidates.

He said on Monday that he is sure of victory today, going by the merit of the case.

Even if the election were to hold, it may not produce a clear cut winner because of uncertainty among most of the contestants.

Fifteen of the 20 contestants have commenced moves for a consensus candidate, but Andy Uba of the Labour Party (LP) and Uche Ekwunife of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) have turned down the idea.

Four separate meetings have been held by the Chairmen of some political parties and the Coalition of Credible Candidates (CCC) on the need for a consensus candidate.

The CCC meetings were attended by, among others, George Okoye of NMPP, Okey Nwosu (ADC), Ogochukwu Egolum (NNPP), Njideka Anyadike (NAP), Ezekwueche (PMP), Mike Ejezie (ANPP), Jeff Onyejegbu (CNP), and Mike Nwafor (ALP).

However, Ekwunife insisted that, “There is nothing like having a coalition. I am running to win this election and agreeing to such an arrangement means that I am incapable of winning the election. The only way out is for all the candidates to step down for me then I can agree.”

Uba said: “No, capital no, nothing like that at all. Rather, some people have been trying to adopt me as their candidate and we welcome such overtures. They all know that I am the man to beat anytime.”

Christian Udechukwu, Media Director for Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressed that Soludo is not aware of the coalition.

Comments

Sorry no comments found for this article

Your Comment

Full Name:

Email address:

Location:

Comment:

Todays News