By Onozure Dania

Mr Dickson Oarhe of Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Edo State, who emerged consensus candidate of the party at the November 29, 2014 primary election for House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency, of the state, yesterday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to list his name as the rightful candidate of the party for the February 14 polls.

Accusing Jega of electoral malpractices, Oarhe, through his solicitor N. P Osifo, in two separate petitions addressed to his party and INEC chairman, said: “Our client has briefed us that he emerged as the SDP candidate for the House of Representatives, Owan federal constituency, Edo State after the party’s primaries successfully conducted on November 29, 2014 in the presence of members of SDP and INEC officers.

“Mr Oarhe informed us that after the successful conduct of the primaries, the party’s chairman had, without his consent and knowledge, intended to substitute his name with one Ekeinde Obas, which he vehemently opposed, when he got to hear of the plot.

“Our client has further informed us that to his surprise and notwithstanding his opposition, his party chairman had with the collaboration of some INEC’s officers substituted his name with the said Ekeinde Obas, whose name was eventually sent to INEC’s headquarters, Abuja and same was published by INEC.

“You are hereby given 72 hours to erase and removed the said name Ekeinde Obas from your data bank or whatsoever materials thereof and revert same to our client’s name, Dickson Oarhe, failure upon which you shall leave us with no alternative but to employ all available legal means to remedy this situation.”