The Nationwide Rescue Motion (NRM) says it has contacted its crew of legal professionals to deal with the alleged imposition of candidate on the occasion by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) within the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
The NRM stated it was bowled over that INEC that had refused to recognise its Nationwide Electoral Committee (NEC), constituted at its final emergency conference held on Jan.17, and rotated to publish the identify of a candidate for the ballot.
Chatting with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday the immediate-past Nationwide Chairman of the occasion, who’s now the Nationwide Organising Secretary of the NRM, Mr Isaac-Chigozie Udeh, confirmed this.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that INEC had, lately, introduced Nov. 8 for the conduct of the governorship election in Anambra.
Udeh stated that though his identify “nonetheless stays the occasion’s nationwide chairman in INEC’s report and web site,” he, at no time, submitted any candidate’s identify to the electoral physique for his occasion in respect of the Anambra election.
“On January 16, 2025, we bought an order impelling INEC to watch our emergency nationwide conference slated for January 17, 2025. INEC was duly notified.
“The emergency nationwide conference was held and Chief Edozie Njoku and different nationwide executives had been elected.
“I stepped down (because the Nationwide Chairman) to grow to be the Nationwide Organising Secretary of the occasion.
“On March 5, 2025, Hon. Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja, went additional to present a judgement impelling INEC to just accept and recognise the end result of the January 17, 2025, emergency nationwide conference of the occasion,” he stated.
He said that although INEC was knowledgeable in regards to the court docket order on January 16 and the judgment on March 5, nonetheless went forward and monitored an unlawful NEC assembly on January 27, 2025, in addition to Emergency Nationwide Conference held on April 14, 2025.
He stated this was in complete defiance to the subsisting court docket order impelling the fee to recognise the nationwide executives of the occasion that emerged from Jan. 17 conference.
“INEC went forward to reject all of the letters we wrote notifying them of our electoral actions in preparation for the Anambra governorship election and the necessity for them to watch it as required by the regulation.
“Overtly, INEC selected to watch the unlawful governorship primaries organised by Mr. Chinedu Obi, the Nationwide Welfare Officer of the occasion,” he stated.
Udeh accused some recognized INEC’s officers of allegedly subverting the intention and efforts of the NRM to perform successfully as a political occasion underneath a brand new management led by Chief Njoku.
He accused the stated officers of deceptive INEC of violate Subsection 2.5 (a), (b) and (d) of the Electoral Act 2022 referring to how a political occasion submit its candidates’ listing and particulars to INEC.
“It’s abundantly clear that the purported identify inserted in opposition to NRM, within the Anambra governorship election doesn’t have the approval of the legally recognised NRM Nationwide Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku.
“It additionally doesn’t have my endorsement, as the person whose names nonetheless adorns the fee’s web site,” he said.
He accused the stated INEC officers of partaking in forgery, questioning how they happened his signature and that of Njoku.
“That is the requirement of the regulation. Outdoors the 2 of us, no different individual(s) has the precise to signal or authenticate the occasion’s candidate.
“Our legal professionals have been contacted to behave accordingly in addressing this very disturbing situation.
“We urge Nigerians that holding public workplace holders accountable is a part of our civic obligation. Nobody ought to draw back from it,” Udeh stated.
