- ***launches campaign next week
The Chief Jude Okeke led faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has threatened to file a contempt of court action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The group expressed shock over INEC’s publication of Charles Soludo’s name on Thursday as candidate of the APGA in the November governorship election in Anambra.
A statement signed signed by Chief Jude Okeke, the Acting National Chairman of APGA, said the publication by INEC is unknown to law and should be discountenanced
The Ag. National Chairman while rejecting the publication of Soludo’s Name, insists that by the provisions of both the Electoral Act and the INEC time table, INEC ought not to make any other publications of candidates until October which would be the final publication.
He explained that the Court of Appeal Kano Division which INEC relied its decision on, did not make any finding that Victor Oye is Chairman or that Prof. Soludo is candidate of our Party.
According to Okeke, the Court only set aside the judgment of the Jigawa High Court for want of jurisdiction, adding that in the absence of any direct order by the Appeal Court, the judgment that conclusively determines the question of who is Chairman and Candidate of APGA is the judgment B. C. Iheka of the Owerri High Court reaffirmed by Justice V. C. Isiguzo of the same High Court.
He said, “Both the judgment and order from the Honorable justices of the Owerri High Court had been served on INEC before this contemptuous action of changing the name of our candidate.
“APGA will consider an action in contempt against the Commission as it has not gone down well with Ndi Anambra to have a neutral electoral umpire succumb to the whims and caprices of a section of the political class.
“Based on the foregoing, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji is still the candidate of our Party and all preparations for the kickoff of his campaign as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State is in top gear.
“The launch of the campaign which will lead to Umeoji winning the November 6 governorship election and becoming the next governor of the state will hold next week.
“The authentic Chairman of APGA, High Chief Jude Okeke will be presenting the flag of the party to Umeoji at the launch of the campaign that will be attended by party leaders, members and loyalists across the state and the country who have been yearning for the comforting touch of Hon. Umeoji as Governor of Anambra State.
“We are confident that the Supreme Court will correct the wrong done by the appellate court; hence, we shall not be distracted from our plans to campaign in all parts of the state to make our programmes and plans for the state known to the people. We entertain no iota of doubt that our victory both at the apex court and at the polls is certain.”
