Court bars Soludo from participating in pre-election activities
Posted by Jenson Okereke on October 27th 2009
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governoship aspirant, PDP, Anambra State
Just as the tension and bad-blood, generated by the Peoples Democratic Party’s choice of Prof. Soludo as its flag bearer, for the February 2010 governorship election in Anambra State is settling down, the Independent National Electoral commission says it would not invite Soludo to be part of pre-election activities; before the February 6, 2010 election. This is as a result of a court order that has punctured holes on the process that led to Soludo’s choice as PDP’s governorship aspirant in Anambra State.
Although INEC feels that Soludo’s emergence has a shroud of controversy surrounding it, but there is yet another drama and twist – as the Judge B.O. Nwankwo led Anambra High Court just granted on Monday, an injunction stopping INEC from removing Soludo’s name as the PDP candidate for the upcoming Anambra polls.
Commenting on the controversial situation, the Anambra State resident electoral commissioner, Rowland Uwa explained that INEC has no other option than to obey the Abuja High Court order already served on it.
INEC is said to be uncomfortable with the way Soludo emerged. According to THISDAY of 27, October 2009, Iwu is quoted as saying that “INEC is not happy that internal democracy did not take place in the selection of Soludo as your (PDP) party’s flag bearer for the Anambra State governorship election. We are particularly not happy that PDP as a ruling party is not showing good example over the institution of internal democracy in the affairs of political party.” The chairman of INEC Prof. Maurice Iwu further advised the party to capitalize on the opportunity of December date for substitution of candidates and tidy up its house.
Iwu is expected to address the stakeholders’ forum for political parties and candidates in Anambra State. But the question political observers are asking now is – which court order would INEC obey – the Abuja High Court or Anambra High Court.
