A FEDERAL High Court in Awka yesterday ordered the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) to accept the two factional candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

The court order is pending the determination of the suit challenging the legality of the leadership of Chief Victor Umeh as the national chairman of the party.

The receipt of names of candidates for the election draws to a close today.

The Maxi Okwu-led faction of APGA had nominated Dr. Chike Obidigbo as its governorship aspirant to the election, as against the nomination of Chief Willy Obiano by the Umeh-led group.

This was after the APGA screening committee set up by Umeh disqualified Obidigbo for reportedly submitting a party membership card signed by Okwu.

Ruling in a suit, Justice M.T Salihu noted that considering the urgency of the matter, the INEC must accept the names of the nominee of the first applicant (Okwu), as well as that of the Victor Umeh-led faction as governorship candidates of the APGA pending the determination of the case.

Reacting to the ruling, the Okwu faction, which rose from its NWC meeting yesterday in Abuja, told journalists that it was satisfied with the ruling from Awka.

The faction stressed that like the case of Rivers State in 2007, the authentic candidate of the APGA would emerge the next governor of Anambra State if the party won the November 16 election.

Meanwhile the INEC, which noted that today would be the last day for the receipt of party nominees for the election, disclosed yesterday that it was yet to receive the court directives.

Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, told The Guardian on phone that the nominee of the Maxi Okwu faction was yet to submit any name to the commission.

He maintained that the commission still recognizes the Chief Victor Umeh as the APGA chairman, based on court directives.

He, however, noted that the INEC, an impartial body, would not disobey any court order.

He said at the end of the date for submission of candidates, the INEC would deliberate upon the cases of party representatives at the Anambra election.

The Okwu faction, which spoke through its National Publicity Secretary, Bernard Akoma, noted that the reconciliation between Chief Victor Umeh and the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, was a settlement of two estranged brothers from the same town, which, he stated, did not have anything to do with the crisis in the party.

Akoma, who insisted that peace was elusive in the APGA leadership, accused Umeh and Obi of running the party like a private business of Agulu brothers.

He gave the assurance that the Okwu faction would not seize fire until it returned the party to the genuine vision of its founding fathers.

“Yes, we have just been informed by our lawyer that the Federal High Court in Awka has ruled that based on the urgency of the matter, the name of the first applicant should be submitted as well as that of Umeh’s candidate pending the determination of the case,” he said.

“Out of the 27-man NWC of the APGA, 18 members left Umeh because of his high-handedness but he has continued to discharge the duties of the party with only eight members of the erstwhile NWC, which is against the party’s constitution.

“He (Umeh) is running the party as a mercantile affair, rather than a political party. We call on INEC to accept the two candidates of the APGA factions until the determination of the case against Umeh’s continuous claim as APGA chairman.

“We are challenging this in court, and if Umeh wins, which I know he will not, then he can go on with his candidate. But if we win, the same will go to us.”

Akoma said like in 2007, when Mr. Celestine Omehia and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi contested in Rivers State, the November 16 election in Anambra State would be won by the APGA.

“Also, it will be the party, through its symbol, the cock, that will be represented, and not the candidate,” he said. “So, whoever emerges victorious at the court will represent the APGA come November 16.”

Akoma alleged that there was a dramatised ceremony in Awka between Governor Obi “and his then estranged brother, Victor Umeh,” using the name of the APGA.

“But it is clear that the parallel lines dividing the party are still very visible,” je said. “We strongly believe that that agreement between Obi and his brother, Umeh, was a resolution to settle their misunderstanding as two brothers from the same community (Agulu).

“We wish to state here that no other member of APGA was involved in that drama. Also, we wish to state that till date, no other member of APGA has been briefed on the terms of agreement between Obi and his brother, Umeh.

“Instead, the two have continued to run the affairs of the party as if it is a personal estate of Anambra bothers.

“We wish to state here that APGA is bigger than Anambra State and therefore cannot be appropriated by Anambra brothers as their personal empire.”

Akoma also call on the INEC not to take the resolution of Obi and Umeh, who had reportedly settled their differences as brothers to mean the resolution of the APGA.

“We still have challenges in the party and we wish to disassociate ourselves with any dealings of the two individuals in the name of the party,” he said.

“Their actions are towards the pursuit of their personal interest, which is at variance with genuine interest of the party.”

He noted that the constitution of the party allows a maximum of eight years for every individual for tenure of two terms of four years each.

But he said: “Today, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, who parades himself as the national secretary of APGA, was elected in 2003.

“By today (yesterday), he is spending 10 years and seven months as the national secretary of Victor Umeh and Peter Obi’s APGA, contrary to the constitution of the party.”

Akoma added: “We ask INEC to treat APGA the way it has treated PDP by ensuring that it does not recognise candidates who were not properly elected.

“INEC must be wary of its dealings with Umeh and Obi in the name of APGA, as they cannot speak for the entire leadership of the party.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/policy-a-politics/132990-court-orders-inec-to-accept-two-apga-nominees-for-anambra-poll

Peter Obi and Victor Umeh just shot themselves in the foot.

Hahaha there will never be peace for the wicked...They shut Soludo out only to be Shut down themselves..... With this new Development....it's safe to say....Ifeanyi Ubah is winning that Contest...

Confusioninst & their roforofo fight. Election is barely 2 months away & they are still at this stage. I pity them

Vote Ifeanyi ubah vote life. Vote ifeanyi ubah vote freedom.

FreeGlobe: Peter Obi and Victor Umeh just shot themselves in the foot.

Absolutely. There is crisis in Apga, Anambra PDP, and many people are not totally simpatico with APC.
So, now who stands the best chance of winning this election?

They will resolve their differences soon. Instead ifeanyi uba will win there won't be any election in anambra state.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!


I no fit laugh...

hmmmm

R

*following*

mekaboy: They will resolve their differences soon. Instead ifeanyi uba will win there won't be any election in anambra state.

you are talking here on nairaland as if your opinion matters in this election.imagine you threatening that if ifeanyi ubah wins there will be no election I urge you to be careful of things you say here

Gbege

LABOUR PARTY - Dr. Ifeanyi Uba

maxwello.yg:

Absolutely. There is crisis in Apga, Anambra PDP, and many people are not totally simpatico with APC.
So, now who stands the best chance of winning this election?

I wondered what will happen and how many aspirants would emerge if the ibos finally got a chance to produce the president. . .Smh @ their greed to reach a consensus !

~Bluetooth:


I wondered what will happen and how many aspirants would emerge if the ibos finally got a chance to produce the president. . .Smh @ their greed to reach a consensus !

its none of your business you should be worried about tinubu's health

Nigerian Court can even order a dead man to a resurrection so long as someone paid for it.......... God bless Nigeria

~Bluetooth:


I wondered what will happen and how many aspirants would emerge if the ibos finally got a chance to produce the president. . .Smh @ their greed to reach a consensus !

you wan start another E-war abi una no dey taya?

ik4life: Vote Ifeanyi ubah vote life. Vote ifeanyi ubah vote freedom.

The song in that his television advert is awful. The lady keeps repeating "Anambra state" with the most terrible voice.

~Bluetooth:


I wondered what will happen and how many aspirants would emerge if the ibos finally got a chance to produce the president. . .Smh @ their greed to reach a consensus !

stop being a tribalist

mekaboy: They will resolve their differences soon. Instead ifeanyi uba will win there won't be any election in anambra state.

Bro who r u 2 make such utterance?

mekaboy:

A concerned citizen.

Dias dis saying dat goes thus"common sense is neva common".Jst found out u lack common sense,wen u get it den hala mua lets talk..

Na wa o
See IBO politics

Can u see dat Biafra is not yet ripe enuf to stand alone?

Mtcheeeeeeeeeeew

sylvalord:
stop being a tribalist

No it is not. . . .The question you should ask is why we are having this deja Vu in Anambra again ? Pdp is currrently embroiled in this kind of crisis !

kossylator: Bro who r u 2 make such utterance?

A concerned citizen.

wetin come concern me for here na,that's una problem make u go find how una go settle am greedy thiefs,power tussle wey worry una

.

Am tired of Reading all these Poly-Tricks. I'll wait for all d parties at Amen!!!

Nov. 16.

end tym politicz...pdp haz pazzed their confuzion 2 apga

Youngtekkey: wetin come concern me for here na,that's una problem make u go find how una go settle am greedy thiefs,power tussle wey worry una

if e no concern u, keep quiet!

Well, wetin come concern me ?