Chukwuma Charles Soludo and Valentine Ozigbo of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), respectively, will not be contesting the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, going by the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday.
Rather, the slots have been given to Chukwuma Umeoji and Andy Uba for APGA and PDP respectively, according to a statement released by INEC spokesman, Festus Okoye, citing court orders, which he said endorsed the two candidates.
Soludo, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had emerged the APGA candidate at the APGA primaries where Governor Willie Obiano was present while Ozigbo, was recognised by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), and handed over the party ticket by the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, a fortnight ago.
However, Okoye, the National Commissioner in charger of Information and Voter Education Committee, in the statement, claimed that the electoral body, as a law-abiding institution, was simply obeying the orders of courts.
The INEC spokesman, explained that the commission had met the previous day and, among other things, considered the list/personal particulars of candidates nominated by the various political parties for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to hold on November 6.
He said: “The Commission also considered and took cognizance of the judgments/court orders served on it in relation to the primaries of the political parties and other processes leading to the election.
“In line with Section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) the personal particulars of the candidates will be published in the commission’s notice board in Awka, Anambra State.
“The names of the candidates, their gender, party, age, qualification and the Commission’s decision/remarks are herein attached.
“The Commission will continue to act in consonance with the Constitution and the law and will continue to obey the judgments and orders of courts served on it”.