By VINCENT UJUMADU & Ikenna Asomba

AWKA — Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Director General of Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike, yesterday, described the suit by a member of APGA representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife asking for the disqualification of Obiano as the party’s candidate in the November 16, governorship election in the state as an exercise in futility.

Mrs. Ekwunife who was the runner-up to Mr. Obiano during the party’s primary, having scored the second highest votes, filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State, praying it to declare her as the rightful candidate for APGA, in the election, in view of Obiano’s alleged  ‘’multiple registration as a voter, which is a serious election offence and by the combined effect of Sections 9(1), (2) and (24(1) (e) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended and Section 178 (5) of the 1999  Constitution as amended.’’

Joined in the suit filed by her counsel, Chief Ugo Ugahamadu, are APGA and INEC.

But Uzodike told a news conference in Awka that though APGA had not been served with the court summons, Ekwunife’s action, if true, was disturbingly laughable.

He said: “I expect Ekwunife or whoever that is behind her to know that a court of competent jurisdiction had ruled on that matter by saying that Obiano did not do double registration. Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had made a categorical statement on that issue.

“Ekwunife was part of the APGA campaign and even collapsed her structure into the campaign organisation and for her to begin to do this at this time is something many people do not understand. Maybe she is not acting on her own, but it is unfortunate that she is being used for something that would not benefit her.”

According to Udodike, all the media establishments that covered the Anambra election went to Aguleri, the home town of Obiano, to know if he would vote based on the allegation of double registration and they all saw him vote.

He also recalled that INEC had earlier stated that anybody who did double registration would not vote and when Obiano voted, the argument ought to have ended.

Uzodike urged APGA, as a political party, to seriously look into the matter ‘‘because it goes beyond anti – party activity’, arguing that anybody going on a voyage of wanting to disqualify anybody at this stage, was merely being too ambitious.’’