ONE of those laying claim to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
ticket in the forthcoming Anambra Central senatorial re-run polls,
Senator Annie Okonkwo, has advised political parties planning fresh
primaries to nominate candidates for the exercise to have re-think
because it is illegal.
In a statement, the senator said if
parties go ahead to conduct fresh primaries in elections where the court
ordered re-run, they would be infringing on the electoral laws because
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s time for
substitution of candidates expired last year.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, held a primary to nominate its candidate following the decision of Senator Chris Ngige to withdraw from the race on account of his ministerial appointment.
The PDP is also planning to hold a primary to nominate its candidate. The seat became vacant following Appeal Court’s nullification of Senator Uche Ekwunife’s election, saying she was not validly nominated by the PDP.
Okonkwo, who belongs to the Oguebego faction of the PDP in Anambra, said: “It would amount to an illegality to allow PDP and APC to field fresh candidates for the re-run election in the Anambra Central senatorial district. The court did not ask political parties to conduct fresh primaries. The court only ordered the INEC to conduct a re-run within 90 days.”
He continued: “Ngige, who is the only person that can contest the re-run in APC was quoted to have said that he would not participate in the election. If APC or any other political party goes ahead to field a new candidate and wins the re-run, it would cause another legal battle because those who will emerge, will not be products of a valid primary.’’
Consequently, he said the right thing for parties to do ‘’is to allow those who participated in the primary to take part in the re-run. So, if Ngige is no longer interested in the re-run, APC won’t be able to participate.”
The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, held a primary to nominate its candidate following the decision of Senator Chris Ngige to withdraw from the race on account of his ministerial appointment.
The PDP is also planning to hold a primary to nominate its candidate. The seat became vacant following Appeal Court’s nullification of Senator Uche Ekwunife’s election, saying she was not validly nominated by the PDP.
Okonkwo, who belongs to the Oguebego faction of the PDP in Anambra, said: “It would amount to an illegality to allow PDP and APC to field fresh candidates for the re-run election in the Anambra Central senatorial district. The court did not ask political parties to conduct fresh primaries. The court only ordered the INEC to conduct a re-run within 90 days.”
He continued: “Ngige, who is the only person that can contest the re-run in APC was quoted to have said that he would not participate in the election. If APC or any other political party goes ahead to field a new candidate and wins the re-run, it would cause another legal battle because those who will emerge, will not be products of a valid primary.’’
Consequently, he said the right thing for parties to do ‘’is to allow those who participated in the primary to take part in the re-run. So, if Ngige is no longer interested in the re-run, APC won’t be able to participate.”
The problem with many politicians is that no one wants to accept defeat.
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