*Over alleged substitution of candidate’s name

By Ise-Oluwa Ige

ABUJA—A Federal high court sitting in Abuja, last Friday, summoned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for allegedly substituting the nominated gubernatorial candidate of the National Democratic Party, NDP,  Prince Donatus Okonkwo without complying with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006.

The summons followed a request by the aggrieved politician, Prince Okonkwo.

In the originating process filed by the Chambers of Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Okonkwo is contending that INEC allegedly failed to include his name on the revised list of nominated candidates for the 6 February  2010 gubernatorial poll in Anambra published on 7 January and pasted at its headquarters without giving him any reason.

He named both INEC and his political party as defendants in the case.

In his originating summons brought pursuant to Order 3, Rule 7 and 9 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009, he is asking the court to construct section 34 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2006 with a view to determining whether it is valid in law for either or both INEC and his party, NDP, to remove his name from the list of nominated candidates without his knowledge or compliance with section 34 of the electoral law. He formulated 500 questions touching on the issue.