Anambra Central: Conduct Rerun Poll on January 13, APGA Group Tells INEC

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group has
urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
conduct the long awaited Anambra Central senatorial rerun election
on January 13, 2018 as scheduled.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Great
Martin Kalu, said it would be inappropriate, unfair, unjust and
justice juxtaposed to further delay the rerun poll and deny the
people of Anambra Central senatorial district effective
representation in the Senate.

The group added that the specific order of the Court of Appeal
Abuja Division on November 20, 2017, that INEC should conduct the
Anambra Central senatorial fresh election within 90 days excluding
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, still
subsists.

So far, 13 political parties have indicated interest to
participate in the rerun poll on January 13 in compliance with the
appellate court judgment which is in tandem with the ruling of the
Court of Appeal, Enugu that is the final court for National
Assembly disputes since December 7, 2015, which nullified the
Anambra Central senatorial election, and ordered a rerun within 90
days.

The group said: “In desperate attempt to win elections at all
cost, PDP is notorious in fielding multiple candidates for various
positions and ambush the courts for favourable judgments as
obtainable in the Anambra Central senatorial seat where the party
fielded Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Chief Annie Okonkwo, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo
and Mr. Peter Obi in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act 2010
as amended.

“The ploy or intrigue is to keep the matter live in court with
the fallacious assumption that the rerun poll will not be conducted
till 2019 if they fail in their desperation to grab power.

“The recent belated high court ruling in favour of Obiora
Okonkwo is one of them while awaiting that of Annie Okonkwo on the
same PDP Anambra Central senatorial candidacy.

“This unprovoked assault on the nation’s jurisprudence and frail
democracy must stop forthwith.

“INEC must be fair, firm and decisive in discharging its
constitutional responsibilities and sanction political parties that
violate the Electoral Acts with impunity. That way there will be
sanity in the political process.

“Obiora Okonkwo is on a wild goose chase with his senatorial
ambition, a mission impossible with the National Assembly Election
Appeal Tribunal’s nullification of the Anambra Central senatorial
poll and barred PDP and its candidate from participating in the
rerun election. A position the Supreme Court upheld on February 10,
2017 when Ekwunife approached the apex court to seek redress on the
matter.

“January 13 Anambra Central senatorial rerun poll is sacrosanct.
APGA Integrity Group urges INEC to ensure the fresh election is
free, fair, credible, transparent and acceptable. It is the panacea
to the senatorial quagmire.

“Enough of this legal gymnastics and summersault intended by
political hawks to deprive the good people of Anambra Central
senatorial district effective and quality representation by APGA’s
candidate, Chief Victor Umeh.

“Election is the beauty of democracy as power resides in the
people. 2019 general election is yet another opportunity for a
fresh start.”

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group has
urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
conduct the long awaited Anambra Central senatorial rerun election
on January 13, 2018 as scheduled.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Great
Martin Kalu, said it would be inappropriate, unfair, unjust and
justice juxtaposed to further delay the rerun poll and deny the
people of Anambra Central senatorial district effective
representation in the Senate.

The group added that the specific order of the Court of Appeal
Abuja Division on November 20, 2017, that INEC should conduct the
Anambra Central senatorial fresh election within 90 days excluding
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, still
subsists.

So far, 13 political parties have indicated interest to
participate in the rerun poll on January 13 in compliance with the
appellate court judgment which is in tandem with the ruling of the
Court of Appeal, Enugu that is the final court for National
Assembly disputes since December 7, 2015, which nullified the
Anambra Central senatorial election, and ordered a rerun within 90
days.

The group said: “In desperate attempt to win elections at all
cost, PDP is notorious in fielding multiple candidates for various
positions and ambush the courts for favourable judgments as
obtainable in the Anambra Central senatorial seat where the party
fielded Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Chief Annie Okonkwo, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo
and Mr. Peter Obi in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act 2010
as amended.

“The ploy or intrigue is to keep the matter live in court with
the fallacious assumption that the rerun poll will not be conducted
till 2019 if they fail in their desperation to grab power.

“The recent belated high court ruling in favour of Obiora
Okonkwo is one of them while awaiting that of Annie Okonkwo on the
same PDP Anambra Central senatorial candidacy.

“This unprovoked assault on the nation’s jurisprudence and frail
democracy must stop forthwith.

“INEC must be fair, firm and decisive in discharging its
constitutional responsibilities and sanction political parties that
violate the Electoral Acts with impunity. That way there will be
sanity in the political process.

“Obiora Okonkwo is on a wild goose chase with his senatorial
ambition, a mission impossible with the National Assembly Election
Appeal Tribunal’s nullification of the Anambra Central senatorial
poll and barred PDP and its candidate from participating in the
rerun election. A position the Supreme Court upheld on February 10,
2017 when Ekwunife approached the apex court to seek redress on the
matter.

“January 13 Anambra Central senatorial rerun poll is sacrosanct.
APGA Integrity Group urges INEC to ensure the fresh election is
free, fair, credible, transparent and acceptable. It is the panacea
to the senatorial quagmire.

“Enough of this legal gymnastics and summersault intended by
political hawks to deprive the good people of Anambra Central
senatorial district effective and quality representation by APGA’s
candidate, Chief Victor Umeh.

“Election is the beauty of democracy as power resides in the
people. 2019 general election is yet another opportunity for a
fresh start.”