THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group, on Saturday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the long awaited Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election on January 13, 2018 as scheduled.
In a statement authorized by its Publicity Secretary, Great Martin Kalu, a copy of which was made available to Sunday Tribune in Abuja, the group said it was inappropriate, unfair, unjust and justice juxtaposed to further delay the rerun poll and deny the good people of area effective representation in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the group, 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.
“The specific order of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division on Monday 20th November 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 7th December 2015, which nullified the Anambra Central Senatorial election, and ordered a rerun within 90 days.
“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.
“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 Mrs. 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”, the statement stressed.