CNPP Asks INEC Not to Cancel Anambra Central Re-run Poll

Commission receives CTC of judgment

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to go ahead with its plans to conduct the court ordered Anambra Central senatorial district election re-run scheduled for January 13, 2018.

The Court of Appeal had in its judgment on November 17, 2017, ordered INEC to conduct a re-run election for the Anambra Central senatorial district, within 90 days, after another nullified the election of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Ekwunife, leading to the fixing of the election for January 13, 2018 by the commission.

But in another ruling on December 13, a Federal High Court in Abuja declared Dr. Obiora Okonkwo as the rightful candidate of the PDP in the election, following pre-election matter that was brought before the court by Okonkwo, after the PDP primary in 2014.

INEC had said it would apply for the Certified True Copy of the High Court judgment and that it would study it before coming out with a position on the election.

However, CNPP said despite judgment of the Federal High Court, the commission should obey the ruling of the Appeal Court which is considered superior under the circumstance.

Addressing a press conference wednesday, CNPP’s Secretary General, Willy Ezeugwu, insisted that INEC must go ahead with the planned January 13, 2018 election re-run as ordered by the Appeal Court.

He said about 13 political parties have declared their readiness to take part in the January 13 rerun election.
“In the light of the decision, the CNPP sees the recent judgment of a High Court in Abuja, obtained by Dr. Obiorah Okonkwo as an attempt to flex muscles with the Court of Appeal. This is an unconstitutional anomaly, capable of truncating our democracy, if not nipped in the bud. The hierarchy of courts in Nigeria, established under Section 6 (6) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) is clear and unambiguous,” he said.

The CNPP scribe said INEC should bear in mind that there are about 13 political parties preparing to participate in the court Ordered fresh elections and as such must not allow anything to scuttle it.

“We therefore urge INEC to in strong terms ensure that enemies of our democracy do not prevail in their nefarious plots to abort the conduct of the election and permanently deny the Anambra Central senatorial district a representation in the 8th Senate,” Ezeugwu stated.

Meanwhile, Okonkwo has formally furnished INEC with the certified true copy of the December 13 Federal High Court judgment and requested the issuance of the certificate of return.

In a letter forwarded in his behalf by his counsel, Okonkwo said: “We do hope you will allow reason to prevail and then duly comply.”

The letter titled: “Re-request to issue certificate of return to Dr. Okonkwo Obiora in compliance with judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2014”, and signed by Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN), read: “We are counsel to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo and our first letter on the above, dated December 14, 2017 refers.

“As undertaken in that said first letter, we hereto attach a certified copy of the full judgment to enable you comply/cause to comply therewith forthwith. We do hope you will allow reason to prevail and then duly comply. Kindly accept assurances of our highest esteem,” the letter read.

The court had in its ruling also ordered the Senate President to swear-in Okonkwo to occupy the vacant seat of Anambra Central in the Senate.

In his first letter to INEC dated December 14, 2017, Okonkwo said: “We respectfully, but firmly, request sir, that you issue/cause to be issued, our client the said Certificate of Return as ordered by the Federal High court, forthwith, to enable our client present himself to the leadership of the senate for inauguration.”

The letter received at the office of the INEC chairman, further read: “We are counsel to Obiora Okonkwo, the PDP candidate that won the party’s nomination to contest the March 2015 election for Anambra Central senatorial district but was unlawfully and wrongfully denied the ticket, which ticket was handed to Mrs. Uche Ekwunife. He is hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’; and we hereby wrote on his instructions.”