The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has clarified reasons for its insistence that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not take part in the March 5, 2016, Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Lawrence Azubuike, in a meeting with leaders and representatives of all political parties in the state in his office on Thursday, stated that only candidates and parties that took part in the March 28, 2015, election will be allowed to participate in the rerun poll.
He disclosed that the commission still recognizes Senator Chris Ngige as a candidate of the APC, pointing out that the commission has not been intimated of his withdrawal, resignation or refusal to vie.
Hear Dr Azubuike: “We have not been notified if the candidate of the APC has declined to vie, but I must also say that no one is compelled to participate, if anyone for any reason does not want to participate in the election, it is even better for us.
“The decision to exclude the PDP and even the APC if they are fielding a new candidate was not taken here in Awka by us, it was taken by our headquarters, and we are only meant to obey the instructions given to us,” he said.
He said that APC can participate in the election if it so wishes to field its previous candidate, Ngige.
But the state chairman of the APC in the state, Barr Emeka Ibe said that it is not true that the party did not write INEC formally to state that its candidate in the March 2015 election, Ngige has withdrawn.
He therefore cautioned the REC to avoid impunity of the past by the commission.
Chuks Collins
