TVCE ,POLITICS – The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday disagreed with the Independent National Electoral Commission over the disqualification of its candidate from the Anambra Central Senatorial Election scheduled for March 5, 2016.
INEC has excluded the APC and its candidate from the re-run election.
According to a statement by its National Secretary, Mai Bala Buni, the APC said its candidate, Sharon Ikeazor, who was recently picked as replacement for Senator Chris Ngige who voluntarily withdrew from the contest “is still very much in the race.”
According to APC, this clarification is sequel to reports suggesting that the APC senatorial candidate has been excluded from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Buni said, “The party is not in receipt of any communication from the Independent National Electoral Commission in respect of the purported exclusion of the APC senatorial candidate.
“Dr. Chris Ngige who contested the election in March 2015 on the platform of the APC is now a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has withdrawn from the fresh election ordered by the Court of Appeal.
“To avoid a vacuum, the party after due process presented the candidature of Barrister Sharon Ikeazor as replacement for the original candidate who withdrew from the race.
“By law, a political party has the right to nominate and sponsor candidates in all elections in Nigeria. It is immaterial whether it is a general election, bye–election, new election, fresh election or election of any nomenclature.”
He further explained that the right of a political party to substitute a candidate who dies or withdraws his/her candidacy is contained in Sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
According to Buni, the APC is confident that the INEC as a law-abiding body will be guided by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and continue its efforts to deliver peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.
