The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra state is now set to pick a new date for the rescheduled court-ordered rerun poll.
The election will be for the senator that would represent Anambra Central senatorial zone at the National Assembly.
The March 5, 2016 date earlier selected for the exercise was discarded by the INEC almost at the last minute because of a battery of law suits by some political parties, groups and individuals.
Some of the suits were perceived within political circles to be targeted at derailing the smooth conduct of the election.
The Anambra state INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Lawrence Azubuike had on March 1, 2016 meeting with stakeholders postponed the re-run.
He announced the postponement of the conduct of the rerun poll indefinitely, citing a court order as reason.
He also pointed out that a new date for the poll would be picked as soon as the rerun polls for Rivers State where most of their key officials were drafted to, was held.
Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike yesterday in a press interview said that the new date for the rerun election was anxiously being expected any moment from now.
Chief Uzodike is a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Commissioner Anambra state as well as the 2013 Director General of Gov Willie Obiano Campaign Organization.
He said it was a promise made to Anambra stakeholders by INEC.
INEC had promised that after the Rivers State rerun elections, a new date would then be picked and announced for the Anambra Central senatorial election.
Uzodike said he saw the immediate past governor of the state-Chief Peter Obi as the only one presently with the required pedigree.
He said only Obi can salvage the position of the state, the Central senatorial zone in the National Assembly, hence his throwing his hat in his aspiration.
According to him, “am in it with many other very well-meaning Nigerians including past Presidents, past and present governors and past and present National Assembly members to convince Obi to run for the senatorial election.
“Our reasons are predicated on the fact that this nation needs his contributions now more than before to assist in salvaging the country…”
From Chuks Collins, Awka