***ANAMBRA ELECTION*** * PDP AGGRESS to Supplementary Election * As INEC Announces November 30 For SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has said that it will be participating in the November 30 supplementary governorship election in Anambra State. Speaking at the National Headquarters of the party in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, said that the party had taken a decision to contest the election despite the earlier position by the party’s candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye. He said:“We believe that our candidate must have spoken too soon but the party is confident the candidate is a loyal party member who will stand with the party. “We have stated our position, we are participating in the election and we are going ahead. We have instructed our candidate, and we have instructed our party members to prepare for the elections “What we have witnessed is deceit and deception by the opposition where they claim that they will not participate in the election. In terms of the supplementary election that’s what they want to plan as well…but they will go behind and direct their people to mobilize for their candidate.” “Comrade Tony Nwoye is a hardworking man…he has been a caretaker state chairman of Anambra PDP, he knows how the party works… I believe he spoke too soon before he communicated with the national body, but I can tell that before we made public our final decision, we discussed with him. The National Chairman discussed with him in my presence.” Election Date: The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has finally announced that the proposed Anambra supplementary election will hold on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega said this at the commission headquarters in Abuja on Friday, after the commission’s meeting over the inconclusive governorship election held on November 16 and 17, 2013. Professor Jega said that INEC regrets the challenges faced in the polls, but explained that the commission did all it could to make sure the election was free and fair. He however dismissed calls for outright cancellation, as he said INEC was yet to receive substantive evidence from any political party on reasons why the polls should be cancelled. “We have examined all the accusations and allegations that have been made, and we’ve come to the conclusion that in spite of minor challenges, unfortunate challenges in the field, there is no substantial evidence to support outright cancellation of the process.” “There is no other decision that we can make as a commission other than that of the Returning Officer, to conduct the supplementary election in those areas where the results were cancelled before the final return is made.” He added in his response to Journalists that the All Progressives Congress, APC’s petition to the INEC has not added any new information different from those already expressed by its candidate in the election, Dr Chris Ngige. He stressed that they have not provided any evidence to warrant outright cancellation of the election. Still reacting to questions from Journalists, Professor Jega also denied hiding the identity of its Electoral Officer, Mr Chukwujekwu Okeke, who is said to be in the police net after allegations of compromise of the polls in Idemili North Local Government. He assured that Mr Okeke would be charged to court, as INEC will not protect any of its staff found defective. He added that elections conducted in Idemili North Local Government on Sunday November 17 due to delays on the scheduled election day was conducted on the recommendation of stakeholders in the community and in agreement with a large number of the voters, and as such the INEC cannot be held responsible for the political parties that decided to boycott it. He assured that the November 30 supplementary election will be better managed.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 23:02:28 +0000
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