An Abuja Federal High Court has been asked to disqualify the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Anambra governorship election, Chief Willie Obiano. The plaintiffs – Ugochukwu Ikegwuonu and Kenneth Moneke - asked for Obiano’s disqualification on the grounds that he possesses two voter cards, having allegedly engaged in double registration. At a hearing in the matter on Thursday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the service of court processes on Obiano. Justice Mohammed made the order after counsel to the plaintiffs, Ifeanyi Nrialike, moved an exparte motion. The judge granted leave to the plaintiffs to serve the court processes on Obiano outside jurisdiction. He also ordered the plaintiffs to paste the processes on the entrance or any other parts of Obiano’s residence at 1 Chief Willie Obiano Street, Aguleri Otuocha, Anambra State. The other defendant in the suit is the Independent National Electoral Commission. The plaintiffs claim that the voter card Obiano tendered before he was cleared to participate in the party’s screening exercise was not the same as the one he submitted to INEC. The plaintiffs raised three questions for the court’s determination, and are also seeking five reliefs, including an order disqualifying Obiano from contesting the election. They also seek an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to strike out Obiano’s name from its record as a candidate in the election. The plaintiffs equally want the court to declare that Obiano is unqualified to contest the election on the grounds that he allegedly possesses more than one voter cards and for engaging in multiple registration. They equally accused the APGA candidate of supplying false information to INEC. They want the court to determine whether, by his alleged conduct, Obiano is still qualified to contest the election by virtue of the provisions of Sections 12(2), 16(2)(3) and 31(5) of the Electoral Act. In a supporting affidavit, one of the plaintiffs, Ikegwuonu, averred that Obiano allegedly possesses two voter cards – the one he purportedly obtained in Lagos, which he tendered during his party’s screening exercise in August, and another one he claimed to have obtained in Otuocha, Anambra State, on September 3, 2013, which he allegedly presented to INEC. According to the plaintiff, the Voter’s Identification Number on the first card is 90F5815E7D3738200332, while the second one is marked 90F5B12B01296204172. He averred that Obiano’s claim to having a single voter card, as contained in the documents he submitted to INEC, was false. Ikegwuonu also queried the date contained on the birth certificate which Obiano tendered and which was issued by Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. Hearing in the case continues on December 18, 2013. Also, the Federal High Court sitting in Awka on Thursday adjourned hearing in a suit filed to disqualify the APGA candidate till January 16, 2014. The suit filed by an Onitsha-based lawyer, Mr. Jezie Ekejiuba, is seeking the disqualification of Obiano from contesting the election for apparently registering twice as a voter, an offence punishable by the Electoral Act. The case was later adjourned till January 16, 2014, two months after November 16, governorship election for hearing of motion to produce documents, nomination form, affidavits sworn to by Obiano and his voter card for the election by REC and INEC.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:40:50 +0000
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