Removal of Chime: Enugu PDP faction accuses INEC of mischief

By Tony Edike
ENUGU–THE Governor Sullivan Chime’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP has strongly condemned the publication of the name of Chief Anayo Onwuegbu as Enugu State  governorship candidate of the party by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC

Reacting to the display of list of candidates from the Caeser Okey Ogbonna-led faction loyal to the ousted National Chairman of PDP, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo by the electoral body on Monday, chairman of the governor”s faction, Engr. Vita Abba described the act by some officials of the commission as quite unfortunate and regrettable, pointing out that it negated all tenets of due process in law.

Said Abba: “Our first reaction was to ignore such an irresponsible act by some elements within INEC, ostensibly motivated by certain inducements from some desperate politicians who are out to score cheap points.

“There are questions that must be asked and which need answers from INEC. One, how did they (INEC) come about the name of the person purportedly pasted on its board in Enugu? If the list or name did not emanate from the PDP headquarters, how did the commission or its officials in Enugu come about it?

“Why did INEC wait till today (yesterday) to publish the name, after counsels to both parties made their arguments to set aside the interlocutory injunction and ruling was fixed for Wednesday? The ex-parte order was given for over one week but the commission waited till few hours to judgement to cause this mischief. Why did they not wait till Wednesday for the ruling? It’s absurd.”

The party chairman lamented that INEC went beyond its mandate by even granting what was outside the court order. According to him, “the order merely restrained PDP and INEC from recognising the name of Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime as the party’s candidate pending the determination of the case.

“At no time did the order ask INEC or its officials to go about searching for a name that was not submitted by the party in the first place. Besides, the Electoral Act reserves the right of the party to nominate its candidates, not the court or some compromised officials of INEC.”

Abba, however, urged members of the party and the people of Enugu State to discountenance  “this unfortunate and irresponsible act by some INEC officials who are out to tarnish the image of the commission and the reputation of the chairman.”

“We are quite confident that this decision shall be reversed because we have it on good authority that this is the handiwork of some elements within INEC to embarrass Governor Chime and PDP in Enugu State. We urge our people, therefore, to be patient and await the verdict of the court which is the last hope of the oppressed,” Abba added.