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Anambra 2010: INEC yet to include
Soludo as candidate
From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to
publish the names of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer,
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his deputy, Senator Emma Anosike, as
candidates in the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra
state.
This is despite the striking out of the suit challenging their emergence
as the governorship candidates of PDP by an Abuja High Court on
Monday.
INEC had refused publication of PDP candidates’ particulars
alongside other parties’ candidates at the state headquarters,
Awka, on the strength of the same court order before it was vacated
on Monday.
Though the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, had earlier said the
Commission had not given green light to any of the candidates whose
particulars were forwarded to INEC by their various political parties
to contest the election, the Commission, in Anambra, had published
particulars of all the candidates except that of the PDP on their
notice board.
However, when contacted on the absence of the PDP candidates’
particulars, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chief Rowland
Uwa, said that PDP candidate’s issue was a matter for the
INEC headquarters.
Disclosing that he had not received any directive from his headquarters
to include Soludo’s name or not, Uwa said, “I cannot
speak on the issue of Soludo’s candidacy because this is a
matter that is left with the Commission in Abuja and you do not
tell us on the pages of the newspapers that an order has been vacated.
“Presently, we have not received any directive or memo saying
that the court order has been vacated and as such, we should act
according to this development. Besides, no one has served us with
the court process, indicating that the order is vacated.
“Again, since the matter is with Abuja High Court, the Commission
has to act on that and inform us. I am not the Commission; I am
just a Resident Electoral Commissioner.”
When contacted, officers of the Soludo Campaign Organisation who
were very busy planning their activities refused to comment on the
issue.
But one, who pleaded anonymity, said that the issue of including
Soludo’ name was not worrying them because they know that
it would take some administrative processes.
“My brother, you know the order was just struck out on Monday
and you know it has to go through administrative processes before
getting to the REC in Awka. So, I don’t think there is any
game being played by INEC.”
The aggrieved party in the controversial PDP gubernatorial candidacy
had gone back to the court to ask that the status rhar made Soludo
inegible remained until the main suit had been resolved.
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