Anambra guber: INEC lists flagbearers, recognises Ukachukwu as PDP candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on Tuesday, recognised Nicholas Ukachukwu as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra state.
This development means that neither Tony Nwoye, who emerged winner at the primary election held on August 24, nor Senator Andy Uba, who emerged winner at the parallel primary election will fly the party’s flag.
The Commission yesterday in a statement by U.F. Usman, on behalf of the Secretary of the Commission, released a list of 23 Governorship candidates and 18 Deputy governorship candidates for the poll.
On the list are Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party, LP, and Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
Also, candidates of AA, ACCORD, ACD, ACPN, AD, ADC, APA, CPP, DPP, ID, KOWA, MPPP, NCP, NNPP, PPA, PPN, SDP, UDP and UPP, were included.
The electoral Commission explained that Ukachukwu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was recognised as the candidate of the party because of a recent court judgment which was in his favour.

He had emerged second to Nwoye at the primary election, but approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, complaining that Nwoye was not eligible to participate in the primary for failing to pay his tax as at when due.
The INEC statement read in part;
“Pursuant to the timetable and schedule of activities for the Anambra State Governorship schedule to hold on 16th November, 2013, twenty three (23) political parties submitted names of candidates they proposed to sponsor at the election.

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“The Commission, after due consideration of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the various judgments and orders of the various High Courts on the candidates for the election, particularly those of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, approved that Form CF001 (Personal Particulars) of this candidates for the election be published.
“Accordingly, the Form CF001 of the following candidates as submitted by their political parties or ordered by the court are now being published in Anambra State in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
“INEC enjoins all political parties to ensure that only the candidates listed engage in campaigns as candidates of the political parties.”