Why Rochas Okorocha will step down

AN indigene of Imo State, Chief George Egu, has taken Jude Agbaso, the running mate of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to a Federal High Court, seeking to disqualify him from the race.

Obi said that Agbaso was not fit to stand for the election as Okorocha’s running mate because he was indicted in a case of forgery in the United States (U.S.).

Agbaso allegedly committed the offence in 1995.

But Agbaso’s party yesterday rose in defence of the deputy governorship candidate, saying the allegation was the handiwork of the Imo State Government.

According to the originating summons filed on behalf of Egu by Dr. Mike A.A. Ozekhome (SAN), Egu said it was immoral for Agbaso, who allegedly jumped bail in a criminal case in New York, U.S., to be seeking the number two seat of the state.

Those joined in the suit as defendants were Okorocha, APGA and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the originating summons, the plaintiff will, among others, seek to know “whether upon community reading with regard to the combined provisions of Section 14 (1) and (2), 15 (5), 23, 181, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190 and 191 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 31 (5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended the 1st Defendant/Respondent is constitutionally and legally competent to run for the office of Deputy Governor of Imo State alongside the 2nd Defendant in the April 2011 Governorship election to be conducted by the 4th Defendant/Respondent.

“Whether the vice of criminality that taints the 1st Defendant/Respondent does not affect the 2nd Defendant in such a way as to bar the 2nd Defendant from running for the April 2011 Governorship election to be conducted by the 4th Defendant/Respondent having regards to the provisions of 14(1) and (2), 15 (5), 23, 181, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190 and 191 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section 31 (5) (6) of the Electoral Act, as amended.

“Whether in the peculiar circumstances of the case the 3rd Defendant is not precluded from fielding the 1st and 2nd Defendants as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidates respectively in the April, 2011 Imo State Governorship election.

“Whether in the peculiar circumstances of this case the 4th Defendant/Respondent is not precluded from recognising and fielding the 1st and 2nd Defendants as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidates respectively in the April, 2011 Imo State Governorship election.”

Egu is seeking a declaration that “upon community reading of the combined provision of Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, the Defendant is not constitutionally and legally competent to run for the office of Deputy Governor of Imo State alongside the 2nd Defendant in the 2011 Governorship election to be conducted by 4th Defendant.

“A declaration that the vice of criminality that taints the 1st Defendant affects the 2nd Defendant in such a way as to bar him from running for the office of Governor of Imo State having regards to the clear and unambiguous provisions Section 14(1) and (2) 15 (5), 23, 181, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190 and 191 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 199 as amended and Section 31 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

“A declaration that in the peculiar circumstances of the case, the 3rd Defendant is precluded from fielding the 1st and 2nd Defendant as Defendant as Deputy Governor and Governorship Candidate respectively in the April 2011, Imo State Governorship election.

“A declaration that having regard to the peculiar circumstances of this case the 4th Defendant is precluded from recognising and permitting the fielding of the 1st and 2nd Defendants as Deputy Governor and Governorship candidate respectively in the April 2011 Imo State Governorship election.

“An order of this Honourable Court barring the 1st and 2nd Defendants/Respondents from contesting or taking part in the April 2011 Imo State Governorship election as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidate respectively.

“An order compelling the 4th Defendant to delist and/or remove the names of the 1st and 2nd Defendants as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidates respectively of the 3rd Defendant/Respondent in the April, 2011 Imo State Governorship election to be conducted by the 4th Defendant/Respondent.

“A perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants from parading themselves as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidate respectively of the 3rd Defendant in the Imo State Governorship election to be conducted by the 4th Defendant/Respondent.

“A perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd from fielding the 1st and 2nd Defendants as Deputy Governorship and Governorship candidate respectively in April, 2011 Imo State Governorship election.

“A perpetual injunction restraining the 4th Defendant whether by itself, Agents, Servants, Employees and/or Privies however from recognizing or permitting to be fielded the 1st and 2nd Defendants on the platform of the 3rd Defendant or by other platform in the April 2011 Imo State Governorship election.”

Egu said he was seeking these orders because the “1st and 2nd Defendants are constitutionally and statutorily barred from contesting the April 2011 Imo State governorship election to be conducted by the 4th defendant.

“The vice of criminality of the 1st Defendant/Respondent automatically rubs off on the 2nd Defendant/Respondent since they both have a joint ticket and one cannot contest without the other.

“It is immoral, unethical, unconscionable, illegal and unconstitutional for the 1st Defendant who has a criminal case hanging on his neck in New York, USA from which criminal proceeding he jumped bail, to contest election to the exalted office of Deputy Governor of Imo State, since, in the event that the wins, he will be liable to deportation and to being tried abroad whenever he steps on American soil, a scenario that is not dignifying for the image of Nigeria.