By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The prospect of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Valentine Ozigbo, to become the next Executive Governor of Anambra state received a big boost on Thursday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally listed his name as a candidate in the November 6 Anambra state governorship election.
Ozigbo’s name and that of his Deputy Governorship Candidate have been missing in the earlier list published by the Commission which has insisted that it did so on the instructions of Nigeria courts.
But on Thursday, Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in a press statement made available to journalists disclosed that “the Court of Appeal has ordered the Commission to recognize and publish the name of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo as the Governorship candidate”.
The statement read in parts: “The Commission met today, Thursday 9th September 2021, and considered a number of issues, including the latest court order on and the general preparations for the Anambra Governorship election.
Court Order on PDP Candidature:
The Commission was served with two judgements of the Court of Appeal (Awka Judicial Division) in respect of the candidature of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra Governorship election. The Court has ordered the Commission to recognize and publish the name of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo as the Governorship candidate. Earlier, the party had substituted its Deputy Governorship candidate within the deadline provided by law. Accordingly, the Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates of the PDP are as follows:
S/No
1. Candidate: Valentine Chineto Ozigbo
Age: 50
Gender: Male
PWD: None
Qualification: FSLC, SSCE, WAEC, BSc., MBA
2. Candidate: Lilian Azuka Enemo
Age: 64
Gender: Female
PWD: None
Qualification: FSLC, WASC, BSc.
The final list of candidates will be published on 7th October 2021 as provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
Movement of Non-Sensitive Materials:
It will be recalled that our State Office in Awka was attacked by unknown gunmen. The damage to the physical facility was extensive. So too was the destruction of movable materials, including 50% of the non-sensitive materials already delivered for the election.
While the Commission is making efforts to rebuild the physical facilities, we took a pragmatic decision to distribute the replacement non-sensitive materials from our South East Zonal Stores in Owerri in order to meet our deadlines. For clarity, the non-sensitive materials are the non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 items such as hand sanitizers and face masks, envelopes, posters, stickers, sellotapes, scissors, liquid gum and other stationery items required mainly at the polling unit level.
However, following a review of the deadlines for the completion of work on the destroyed physical facilities, the Commission is satisfied that the ongoing work will be completed by the end of this month. Consequently, the Commission is now in a position to operate from our office in Awka where the batching and distribution of all non-sensitive materials will take place.
We appeal to all stakeholders to continue to cooperate with the Commission for a transparent and credible election in Anambra State”.
