BY Anayo Okoli

Awka—The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday wrote Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to forget about tomorrow’s supplementary elections in Anambra State’s governorship poll and restated its call for outright cancellation.

This came on a day South East vice chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), directed party faithful in the state  to participate fully in the supplementary election scheduled for 211 electoral wards.

In the letter signed by National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, APC said INEC’s refusal to cancel the election would amount to its interference with democracy in the country..

The party noted that the election held on November 16, 2013, was marred by irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, stressing that the exercise was below local and international standard.

Listing its demands, APC said:  “INEC should discard the present fake multiple voters register and produce one authentic voters register that will not disenfranchise any voter and be published 30 days before any election can take place in Anambra State.

“The suspension and prosecution of all officials of the commission who have ever been indicted for electoral perfidy to purge the commission of such compromised officials.

Accreditation at Dunukofia Local Government Area. Photo: Tony Edike

“The immediate redeployment and investigation of the current Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukogu.”

The party alleged that there was an unholy conspiracy between the commission and the Presidency/PDP to rig the elections to rig the election in favor of APGA, adding that there was also mass disenfranchisement of voters through the use of multiple voters registers.

….As monarchs lament Ekwunife’s suit

By  Clifford Ndujihe & Enyim Enyim

Traditional  rulers in Anambra North senatorial zone, yesterday, condemned the recent suit filed at the Federal High Court, Awka, by one of the aspirants in the last governorship primaries of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, against the party’s governorship candidate in the last November 16 inconclusive gubernatorial election, Dr Willie Obiano, over alleged double registration.

This came as leaders  of Idemili North and Idemili South local councils of Anambra State have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to  ensure that voters in the area were not disenfranchised again in tomorrow’s supplementary election.

Rising from a crucial meeting of traditional rulers council in Anambra North senatorial zone, chairman and the traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe, Robert Odegbo, who spoke for the council, described as unfortunate a situation where members of the same family that should be their brothers keepers as the APGA slogan implied, now became their brothers stabbers.

The royal fathers expressed worry that after the North had finally taken the governorship seat from the central through the magnanimity of Governor. Peter Obi, the Central Senatorial zone has turned around to snatch the position from the North through Ekwunife’s suit now pending at the Federal High Court, Awka.