The Independent  National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday postponed indefinitely the Anambra Central senatorial re-run election scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2016.

Announcing the postponement at stakeholders’ meeting at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike said this followed a court order obtained by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that it should be included in the exercise.

Though, the REC did not elaborate, Vanguard gathered that a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered INEC to include the PDP in the rerun election.

INEC bars PDP
INEC had barred the PDP from participating in the rerun poll following a Court of Appeal judgment of 7th December, 2015 nullifying the election of the party’s candidate, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife in the national assembly election held on March 28, 2015.
Curiously, March 5 will be the ninetieth- day as the Court of Appeal had on December 7, 2015 directed INEC to conduct the rerun within 90 days without PDP participating.

But the PDP approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, praying INEC to include it in the rerun. The PDP prayer was granted on Monday, thus necessitating the postponement of the poll indefinitely by INEC.

Reacting to the judgment, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the rerun election, Chief Victor Umeh described the Federal High Court ruling as absurd.

According to him,  the principle of law is that every decision of the court above should bind on all courts below, arguing that a Federal High Court could not assume jurisdiction in a matter already decided by the Court of Appeal.

He threatened to drag the Federal High Court judge that presided over the matter to the National Judicial Commission, NJC, for what he described as ‘brazen impunity and misapplication of the law’.

Umeh accused the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi of being the mastermind in all the plots against him, insisting that “we shall crush him and all his evil plans.”

Though PDP has not officially announced its candidate for the re-run, it was gathered yesterday that former Governor, Obi is being positioned as the PDP consensus candidate.

Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism during the Obi administration, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike told reporters in Awka that Obi would be persuaded to join the race.
He said: “Top PDP members have been mounting pressure on Obi to contest the senatorial election and the former governor has no option but to oblige. PDP is yet to submit the name of its candidate for the election and we are pleading with Obi to run.

“We know that once he is chosen as our candidate, he will win the election in view of his popularity in the zone and in the entire Anambra State.”
But the national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye described PDP’s plan to draft ex-governor Obi into the rerun poll as a wishful thinking, adding, “we are not afraid of any person in this election as we have the capacity to crush any candidate.”

He also argued that since Obi did not participate in any primary of PDP, he is therefore not even qualified to take part in the re-run election.

Coalition welcomes postponement
Meanwhile, a group which calls itself the Anambra Central People’s Coalition welcomed the postponement, arguing that it was not the first time INEC would postpone election after fixing a date.

In a statement signed by the coordinator, Elder Emeka Anazulike, women leader, Mrs. Rosemary Okeke, among other people, the group wondered why INEC should rush the election when there were still some unresolved issues pertaining to the election.

“The postponement will give equal opportunity to parties that are in court to put their houses in order before the re-run,” the statement said.
Despite the postponement, the APGA candidate continued his campaign yesterday in parts of the senatorial zone, asking the electorate not to be deterred by the statement that came from INEC.

Recalling materials
In another development, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has recalled all the materials already being delivered to Anambra Central senatorial election earlier scheduled for Saturday back to its headquarters following the indefinite postponement of the exercise by the commission.

It was gathered in INEC that the materials being withdrawn had no PDP logo on them and following the Federal High Court ruling directing INEC to include the party in the election, the materials had to be recalled.

Meanwhile, it was gathered yesterday that INEC has already appealed against the ruling of the Federal High Court directing the postponement of the election and inclusion of PDP in the exercise.

Following the development yesterday,, many aspirants started putting up their posters in parts of the senatorial zone.
Some of the candidates who spoke on the matter expressed happiness that they would have more time to campaign.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/anambra-central-re-run-inec-postpones-polls-indefinitely-2/

This courts sef ,well APGA will still win!!

What again?

Indéfiniment

Na their way be that

Court process is one of the greatest problems of INEC. The same court that ordered the removal of a party would also order its inclusion. The same court that ordered rerun would also ask INEC inec to suspend it. What a confusion

nigeria and their kangaroo courts.

Lawyers and courts drawing nigeria back since time began. So they will not have a senator representing them indefinitely is the meaning. Meanwhile with the introduction of obi into the fold, every other candidate should start counting their losses cause that man is something else when it comes to politics especially anambra state

With the recent habit of I NEC postponing elections where the ruling party is unlikely to win, it seems they may also postpone 2019 presidential election indefinitely too

Judiciary is one of the problems of Nigeria.

Pidggin:
With the habit of I NEC postponing elections this frequently, it seems they may also postpone 2019 presidential election indefinitely too

they can choose to postpone every election but not the presidential election. Remember a minister now once promised hell on earth should the last presidential election be postponed

After the whole training we did last week for the election,Inec just send us alert for the training.

Y

The case at the appeal court was between APGA and PDP regarding the validity of the senatorial elections which the courts had ordered a re run while the case at the FHC was between PDP and INEC
Two completely different prayers so I am wondering why Umeh is accusing the Judge of abuse of court process

Nice

I see Peter Obi emerging victorious at the end

Adaure4ever:
Judiciary is one of the problems of Nigeria.

Judiciary is the last hope of the common man!

Make dem do am fast fast naa.. .

Anyway,,, am not sure if APGA go win cos Peter obi go represent PDP ... ..and Anambra people like am well

A welcome development. Victor Ume is just jittery because he knows he stood no chance should Peter Obi contest.

Adaure4ever:
Judiciary is one of the problems of Nigeria.

I think you just reduced your thinking capacity with this.

I'm happy Victor Um eh will be challenged by a competent person instead of him zooming into a senate on a hover board

Vote Peter Obi for Senate 2016. Up Peter Obi Up Ndi Anambra Up pdp. Umeh should go to bed, he can never win Peter Obi of Anambra state

hmm Igbo people and their problem, na so dem go take rule biafra?

Senator Peter Obi.................Okwute Igbo, Ijele Aputagooooooo!!!

Tinubutoto:
Vote Peter Obi for Senate 2016. Up Peter Obi Up Ndi Anambra Up pdp. Umeh should go to bed, he can never win Peter Obi of Anambra state

peter obi will never win any election in Anambra

ultimateballer:
peter obi will never win any election in Anambra

I lol at u, let's see how it goes.

Please can we have some lawyers in the house explain this case further to us.
How can a High court rule on a matter that has been decided by the Appeal court.
I thought the next step should be supreme court and finally from supreme court to God...

I am confused here!

I GO VOTE FOR NWOKE OGOLOGO OKPU

[quote author=okangaijele2015 post=43410691]Senator Peter Obi.................Okwute Igbo, Ijele Aputagooooooo!!![/quote
What a dream dashed!

wacoj:
Please can we have some lawyers in the house explain this case further to us.
How can a High court rule on a matter that has been decided by the Appeal court.
I thought the next step should be supreme court and finally from supreme court to God...

I am confused here!

The Pdp went to court compelling INEC to include them in the election. This is not the tribunal matter, ds is not an appeal against the tribunal or court of appeal judgment. In d first place, the court of appeal erred to nullified the election, they never had jurisdiction to have done that. Pdp has gone to court to enforce their own right to field a candidate. This is not restricted to Anambra, same thing happened in Plateau state.

ultimateballer:

peter obi will never win any election in Anambra

ds was how u guys said PMB can never win 2015 election. pls don't undermine the power of Obi

Tinubutoto:

ds was how u guys said PMB can never win 2015 election. pls don't undermine the power of Obi

which power? peter obi is just desperate. He will lose. Anambra is APGA. He is just disgracing himself