The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA was yesterday thrown into confusion following a petition filed at the Federal High Court, Awka urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to disqualify its Anambra State governorship candidate Chief Willie Obiano over double registration which contravenes Section 12 (2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)
The suit filed at the Federal High Court, Awka by Barrister Harrison Okakpu acting for Mr Abum Emeremgini as plaintiff is titled: ‘’In The Matter of Disqualification of Dr. Willy Obiano As The Governorship Aspirant In The Forthcoming Nov. 16, 2013 Governorship Election in Anambra State. In The Matter of Double Registration of Dr. Willy Obiano, The Governorship Candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.’’
The defendants/Respondents in the case includes the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in Anambra as first and second respondents.
APGA and its governorship candidate, Willie Obiano are joined as third and fourth respondents.
In its prayers, the petitioner sought ‘’An injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants/Respondents from parading and recognizing the governorship candidate of the 3rd Defendant/Respondents, Dr Willy Obiano from contesting for the Anambratate Governorship elections scheduled for November 16 2013 having not
fulfilled the constitutional requirements for the qualification of a
Governor of a State’’
The plaintiff further sought ‘’an injunction restraining the officers servants and agents of 1st
Defendant/Respondent from interfering/Deleting data of the 4th
Respondent from the Register of the 1st Defendant/Respondents, proper procedure having not being followed for the transfer of the name of the 4th Defendant/Respondent from Lagos to Anambra State in the Transferred Voter’s list of the 1st Defendant Register and that any purported transfer was not done in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
Okakpu in his supporting affidavit maintains that Obiano having not fulfilled the Constitutional provisions according to section 182(1)(j)of the 1999 Constitution; And having failed to comply with section 1.13(1) of the Electoral Act, the implication in law is that any document from such unconstitutional procedure is null and void.
Following the release of voters register by INEC, Obiano was allegedly discovered to have been involved in double registration, an offence which contravenes Section 12 (2) of the Electoral Act of 2010 with a fine on conviction of N100,000 or one year imprisonment or both.
