By Okey Maduforo Awka
Against the publication of lists of candidates on social media alleged to have emanated from the Anambra state chapter of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the report contending that the Commission has no legal right to announce the names of nominated candidates of the party.
The party further stated that the seven expelled members of the party led by one Arinze Awogu remain expelled from the party for taking the party to Court adding that they never participated in the said primary elections.
Deepening the fate of the seven expelled members is the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja is the suit they filed against the party which the presiding Judge Hon Justice F.E. Messiri upheld the party state Congress noting that it is the internal business of the party as the said members lacked the locus to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
According to the State Legal Adviser of the party Bar Cyprain Udenwa who spoke to reporters shortly after the meeting of the party in Awka ;
“There was a resolution in the floor of the meeting that was moved and adopted that those who took the party to Court remain expelled in accordance to the party’s Constitution section 21( 5 ) and it was unanimously adopted ‘
“We made public the list of our candidates from the Senate to Federal House of Representatives and state Assembly by the Election Committee that was sent from the National headquarters in Abuja’
“However there issues that have continued to rare it’s ugly head on the social media with a report that INEC declared some Aspirants as candidate”
“Be it known to all and sundry that those reports are totally false and of no effect”
Continuing Udenwa carpeted the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC for attempting to usurp the powers of the party and breach the constitution.
“The duty of INEC is to monitor the primary elections of political parties and not to declare the nomination of candidates’
“In our Electoral Act section 8(4) this was made explicit and the duty of INEC is to observe and nothing more “
“In the same section, the primary would be conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the party and that guidelines include those constituted to come and conduct the primary”he said.
On the position of the Arinze Awogu led members that were expelled Udenwa stated that;
“In respect of one Arinze Awogu who had gone on social media along with his cohorts saying that they are candidates of the party are on their own because they are not candidates of the party and they never participated in the primary elections because they were expelled from the party for taking the party to Court “
“What INEC in Anambra state is doing is to cause confusion and that is very unfortunate to say the least”
“Even there is a Supreme Court Judgement that stated that the nomination of a political party is the internal affairs of the party hence INEC has no locus at all”he said.
