14 candidates to contest Jan 13 senatorial re-run in Anambra Central

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 14 candidates have so far shown interest to participate in the 2018 re-run election in the Anambra Central Senatorial zone.

Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anambra State made the disclosure yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at INEC head office Awka, even as the commission assured that the polls would hold.

Orji, however, stressed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains excluded as the court had barred the Party from fielding candidate whenever the election would be re-conducted.

He listed the seven Local Government Areas that constitute Anambra Central Senatorial District to includes, Awka North, Awka South, Idemili North, Idemili South, Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia.

Orji further explained that other parties that filed candidates were eligible to contest the re-run election, saying that the electoral body had already distributed non-sensitive materials to
the affected seven Local Government Areas.

He said, “The sensitive materials would arrive the state once that happens, we will distribute them to the affected areas. INEC officials are undergoing training for the exercise”.

He added, “A  total of 7,670 ad-hoc workers would be deployed for the conduct of the election holding in 1,548 polling units.

“Every arrangement to ensure smooth conduct of the election had been made and cautioned against any form of violence or anti-electoral conduct before, during and after the exercise”.

Commenting on the report that a Federal High Court judgment may have neutralized holding of a re-run in Anambra Central, the REC explained that no such directive was given to Anambra office of INEC by INEC headquarters.

“INEC Anambra is not responsible for policy issues, we get our directives from INEC national headquarters and no such directive has been received asking us not to go ahead with Jan.13 re-run in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

“We advised political parties to play by the rule because we will ensure that we deliver free, fair and credible election which is now a the minimum benchmark for INEC in any election we conduct’’, he said.

Orji while responding to questions from stakeholders condemned the issue of vote buying which participants complained characterized last governorship election held in Nov.18, 2017 in the state.

He said combating the menace of vote buying require collaborative efforts of political parties, security agents and INEC officials, and called on the people to join hands with the commission to improve the conduct of elections.

 Mr John Ahwen, the Anambra State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) said security agents are ready for re-run election and noted that movement would be restricted in the affected areas.