By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA – THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the name of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 6, 2010, election in Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, from the list of candidates for  Wednesday stakeholders meeting following an Abuja Federal High court ruling on the matter served on the commission Monday in Awka.

As it stands, it would appear that the candidate of PDP would not be attending the commission’s stakeholders’ forum taking place in Awka Wednesday.

The Anambra State resident electoral commissioner, Chief Rowland Uwa, was still signing the invitation letters for the meeting  Monday when his legal adviser brought the court order, while the REC was still briefing newsmen on the modalities for the forum.
After a closed door meeting that lasted about 20 minutes with the legal adviser, Uwa called the reporters into his office to confirm the court order barring Soludo from the proposed forum.

“I want to confirm that there is a court order against Soludo and we will comply strictly with it. You know the name of our chairman is Iwu (Law) and we must obey the law,” the resident electoral commissioner said.

The invitation letter prepared by the commission had read:  “The Honorable Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Maurice Iwu wishes to invite governorship and deputy governorship candidates vying for Anambra governorship election 2010 to a very crucial stakeholders’ forum.

“Equally invited are chairmen and secretaries of political parties participating in the aforementioned election.

“All governorship candidates and their deputies should collect their letters of accreditation from the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anambra State, on or before 6.00 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

“All state chairmen of political parties and secretaries involved in the February 6, 2010, governorship election should obtain duly signed letters of credence from their national secretariats.”

According to Uwa, while the letters meant for the state chairmen and secretaries would be sent to the officials of PDP, there will be none for the party.