Anambra 2010 Elections: INEC Clears 24 Governorship Candidates, Stops Soludo

By NairaBrain on Dec 10, 2009 with Comments 0 - 57 views

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released names of 24 standard bearers of the political parties and their deputies cleared for the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra state.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s name was, however, not on the list as he was not cleared due to court litigation.
While the PDP problem was yet unresolved, Governor Peter Obi survived Chief Chekwas Okorie’s coup as he was cleared to contest the election but not without changing his running mate which was gathered to be the saving grace.

Releasing the list at a stakeholder’s forum the commission organised in Awka, INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu said the commission had put in place various measures to ensure that the election was successful.

The list also confirmed the candidature of Chief Dr. Andy Uba and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of Labour Party (LP) and Hope Democratic Party (HDP) respectively.
Addressing the forum, Prof. Iwu urged the candidates to ensure that the election was done in an atmosphere of brotherhood, noting that at the end of the day; only one Anambrarian would emerge as the winner of the election.
He also urged them to shame those who said the state would burn in the course of the election, saying, “the whole world is looking at us, let us show them the difference between speculation and reality.”

Iwu disclosed that as part of the commission’s usual process of enhancing trust, it had posted a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the person of Mr. Ralph Uwazuruonye to take over from the hardworking Chief Rowland Uwa who would be going for another assignment, just as other three commissioners would be joining next year before the election to boost its activities.
Giving the ground rules, he urged the candidates to show courtesy to one another, adding that it would not be business as usual, as the forthcoming election must be one man, one vote.

He said, “I will like to commend the candidates for having a rancour free electioneering campaign contrary to what we read in the newspapers. From the point of view of the umpire, we’re impressed with how Anambra people have so far undertaken this race. People sometime worry about the large number of contestants, that is what happens in a democracy, but it will then filter onto one person.
“But I also want us to continue as we enter this crucial last lap, for us to keep the peace, let it be violent-free and let us also know that whoever is going to emerge as the governor of Anambra State in 2010 can never be somebody from Enugu State, can never be somebody from Imo State, cannot even be somebody very close to here like Asaba. It must be a bonafide son or daughter of the state. The person definitely is your brother or your sister and that is why we have to conduct this electioneering campaign with utmost dignity and respect.
“…Generals die in battle because they keep believing that the new modern war are going to be fought in the same manner like their Korean war or Burma and that is why old Generals die in war. They make the mistake thinking that it is the same old game. The game has changed. People should get used to it. If you think you cannot campaign, it is in your best interest to save your strength and stamina and go home.

“This election would be fought on the basis of one man, one vote. We have monitored elections in this state, seven elections since 1959 and we also know what you do, you also know the tricks you do play. Let me also explain that we will not accept results coming from any so-called difficult terrain because that is the expertise of this state. We will not accept such results. All the results will come at a particular time, they will be sent in and we will take that as a result that happened for everybody, so there will be no surprises
“What we have decided to do is that at every polling unit, according to law, the results will be announced at that polling unit. That is what the electoral act said.”

Iwu also said that in the February election, INEC would not use any adhoc staff but would use its staff or National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) personnel, just as he said that the commission was going to inaugurate an Election Monitoring and Observation Board which would help the commission know where things were not going well so it could fix them.
The board which will be chaired by the first National Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Ikeazor Akariwe, according to Iwu, would participate throughout the election, starting from when it would be inaugurated.
Also speaking, Governor Peter Obi commended the commission for the reassurance given to the state and urged it to ensure that the election was free and fair, just as he called on all his fellow contestants to play by the rule.
His predecessor in office, Dr. Chris Ngige, also commended INEC and urged it to work on the problem areas that had been recurring in elections in the state such as lack of fund for the commission to execute elections, thereby allowing participants bring vehicles to take away voting materials in the name of helping the commission.

Successful candidates for Anambra State February 6, 2010 elections

ALP ARCH. MIKE IKEMEFUNA NWAFOR GOV
CAROL N. ONWELUZO (MRS.) D. GOV
ANPP MICHAEL NNAMDI EJEZIE GOV OKEKE GEORGE OKWUDILI D. GOV
ADC RALPH OKEY NWOSU GOV PRINCE EMMANUEL ODUNZE D. GOV

NDP CHIJIOKE NDUBUISI GODFREY GOV FLORENCE CHINYELU OBIAKO D. GOV
NNPP PATRICK OGOCHUKWU EGOLUM GOV DOZIE JULIUS CHUKWUMA D. GOV
UNPP DR. OKOLI CHRISTIAN NWACHUKWU GOV NOSIKE JULIUS CHUKWUMA D. GOV
NMPP GEORGE IKE OKOYE GOV HON. PAUL PAKER ONYEIZUGBO D. GOV
NAP MRS. NJIDEKA UGOCHI ANYADIKE GOV

MR. ARTHUR OBI OKOLONJI D. GOV
HDP NICHOLAS UKACHUKWU GOV MIKE OKOYE D. GOV
CPN ARCH. GEOFF ONYEJEGBU GOV OKEKE NNODU CYRIL D. GOV
CDC CHUKWUEMEKA KENNETH GOV JOHN NWOSU D. GOV
AC CHRIS NWABUEZE NGIGE (OON) GOV HON. PHILIP OBIORA AGBASI D. GOV

UDP BARR. GODSON OHAENYEM OKOYE GOV OKECHUKWU EMMANUEL CHINELO D. GOV
ARP HON. EMMANUEL NWALUNOR GOV EZEIFE CHUKS UCHE D. GOV
PMP EUGENE EZEKWUECHE GOV
IBENEME VIVIAN CHHIZOBA D. GOV

RPN DR. BENJAMIN OBIDIGBO GOV
ARCH. SIR. JUDE JONATHAN EMEJUE JP. D. GOV
BNPP ONWUGBUFOR VALLENTINE C. GOV
NWANKWO TONY BENSON C. D. GOVNCP KENNETH OZOEMENA NWUBA GOV
JOHN CHUKKA ODENIGBO D. GOV

NMDP CHRISTOPHER IKE NWEGBU GOV
EMEKA HAROLD AMOBI D. GOV PPA HON. MRS. UCHE LILIAN EKWUNIFE GOV
DR. MIKE AGHADIUNO D. GOV
LP DR. EMMANUEL ANDY UBA GOV

NDIFE EDWIN D. GOV
CPP EGONO RICHMOND OLISA GOV
EZENOKE CHRISTIAN NDIDI D. GOV
NSDP CHIEF VICTOR I. ANIGBATA GOV
MR. NWOKOBELU CHRISTOPHER
UCHENNA D. GOV

APGA MR. PETER GREGORY OBI GOV
MR. EMEKA NDUBISI D. GOV
PDP SUBJECT TO COURT LITIGATION

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