Confusion Hits PDP as INEC Takes Tough Decision, Amends Candidates' List in Top Southeast State
- Several members of the Peoples Democratic Party contesting for various positions in the 2023 election have been delisted
- The delisting of candidates was done by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Monday, January 16
- INEC said that its decision to delist the candidates is pursuant to court orders in which the commission is bound
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has delisted the name of Ifeanyi Ọdịi, the Peoples Democratic Party's governorship candidate in Ebonyi state
Ọdịi's name alongside that of his running mate, Igwe Nwagu, is missing from the list updated by the electoral body on its website.
Source: Original
A check shows the names of three other candidates contesting for three senatorial seats - Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Lizy Ogbe (Ebonyi Central) and Ama Nnachi (Ebonyi South) - were also missing from the INEC's updated list of candidates for the 2023 general election.
Other names missing from the list are those of six PDP members contesting for seats in the House of Representatives.
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They include Idu Igariwey (Afikpo North/South), Jerry Obasi (Ọhaozara/Onicha/Ivo), Ogbonnia Nwanne (Ikwo/Ezza South), Chukwuma Ofoke (Abakaliki/Izzi), and Victor Aleke (Ebonyi/Ohaukwu).
A further check showed that the electoral body also had Emmanuel Nwoke listed as the new PDP candidate for the Íshíelu/Ezza North constituency in place of Obinna Nwachukwu who had earlier made the list of candidates released in September 2022 while Henry Udeh of the Labour Party was listed as the party's senatorial candidate for Ebonyi south in place of Linus Okorie who won the run-off primary.
INEC says the updated list is in line with court orders
In its reaction, INEC said that the list of candidates contesting various positions in the 2023 general election was updated by the commission in line with several court orders made.
INEC's secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, in a statement said that the electoral body is bound by law to abide by the court orders.
Oriaran-Anthony added:
“It is worthy of note that the list of candidates was amended in Amendment No. 1 published on the Commission’s website on 3rd November 2022 pursuant to Court Orders and Death”.
Ebonyi 2023: Is Umahi secretly supporting PDP guber candidate? Details emerge
Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi state refuted claims that he is supporting the gubernatorial candidate of the opposition party.
The Ebonyi state governor who is also contesting for a senatorial seat in the 2023 general election says he is a respecter of the principles of zoning.
He, however, urged electoral stakeholders to uphold the tenets of power rotation and the principle of zoning.
Ebonyi crisis: Gov Umahi orders arrest of top APC chieftain
In another development, the police in Ebonyi state have been ordered to arrest the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.
The order was given to the police by the Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, following the battle of supremacy between supporters of the chairman and the House of Representatives candidate for the Afikpo North/South federal constituency.
The crisis which took place on Monday, December 26, led to the killing of a police officer, and two others and the destruction of property worth billions.
Source: Legit.ng
