Anambra guber poll: INEC omits AD candidates

BY Hafsat Abdullahi

Ahead of the governorship election in Anambra state slated for November 18, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to notify it of the omission of the party’s candidates.
In a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Mahmud Jega, the chairman of the party, Ismail Ayodele, said the commission omitted its candidates, Nze Valentine Favour Onwuka and his running mate Chijioke Onyekaonwu, for the Anambra State Governorship Election.
The party said this is despite that it has complied with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in notifying the Commission of the date, venue and time of the Party’s Primary Election in Awka, Anambra State.
It added that INEC duly monitored its primaries on 22nd August 2017, where AD also submitted the Forms F 001 and F 002, which it had collected from the commission.
“We are therefore surprised that the names of our Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates did not appear in your published list of candidates for the Election.
“We urge you to use your good offices to rectify this and ensure that the names of our candidates are included in the list of those contesting the Election”, the party said in the letter.
However, the party reaffirmed its confidence in the Commission, expressing the believe that all eligible candidates for the governorship election are given the opportunity to participate in it.
While pointing out that this is the only way Nigeria can deepen her emerging democracy, AD said “We look forward to the inclusion of our party’s candidates names in your list.”