By Innocent Anaba
A governorship candidate of the Republican Party of Nigeria, RPN, in Delta State, Mrs Nkem Madeiza, has asked a Federal High Court,  Asaba, to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising Mr. Ovie Omo–Agege and Mrs Carolina Enuha as the RPN’s candidates in the forthcoming state governorship rerun, slated for January 6.

Similarly, the  Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  in Delta State, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, has dragged the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party,DPP,  Chief Great Ogboru, before a Federal High Court, Abuja,  asking the court to disqualify him  on the grounds of presenting invalid nomination form-EC 4B (IV) – to INEC.

For Madeiza, she is further asking the court to declare her the eligible candidate of the RPN to contest the rerun as ordered by the Court of Appeal,  Benin, on the grounds that she actively participated in the April 14, 2007 governorship poll in Delta State.

Defendants in the suit are  INEC,  Resident Electoral Commissioner, Delta State, Omo–Agege and Enuha.

She is further contending  that with death of the governorship candidate of the RPN, Mr. Felix Azorbo, who contested the 2007 polls, she (Madeiza) as the deputy governorship candidate, is entitled to step into the shoes of the deceased as the candidate of the RPN for the rerun.

Madeiza is arguing that Omo-Agege and Enuha are not eligible to contest the rerun on the grounds that the duo did not participate in the said 2007 polls, alleging that  they are  not members of the RPN.

Meanwhile, trial judge in the matter, had directed the plaintiffs to serve the defendants with the processes and also ordered INEC and REC ‘not to deny the plaintiffs their rights as bonafide members of the party, pending the determination of the motion on notice’ and adjourned the case till January 11, 2011.