See why INEC delisted Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate.

The delisting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates from the list of candidates for the gubernatorial and national assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has caused concern in Ebonyi State.

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NewsReport that Chief Ifeanyi di and Senator Igwe Nwagu, the party’s candidates for governor and deputy governor, were noticeably missing from the amended list, according to our correspondent.

Also, the names of the three senatorial candidates of the party, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Laz Ogbe (Ebonyi Central), and Senator Ama Nnachi (Ebonyi South), were missing from the list.

Five out of the six House of Representatives candidates were also not included in the updated list.

Those whose names were missing are Jerry Obasi (Ọhaozara/Onicha/Ivo), Ogbonnia Nwanne (Ikwo/Ezza South), Chukwuma Ofoke (Abakaliki/Izzi), and Victor Aleke (Ebonyi/Ohaukwu).

INEC listed Mr Emmanuel Nwoke as the PDP candidate for the Shelu/Ezza North constituency in the updated list, replacing Mr Obinna Nwachukwu, who was listed as the candidate in the previous list released in September.

Also, the Commission listed one Henry Udeh as the senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Ebonyi South instead of Mr. Linus Okorie, who emerged in a runoff primary conducted late last year.

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The amended list was signed by the Secretary of INEC, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on the Commission’s website.

The Commission explained that the updated list was pursuant to various court orders, which the commission was bound to abide by.

“The Commission published the final list of candidates for presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections on September 20, 2022, and governorship and state house of assembly elections on October 4, 2022, in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act of 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Elections,”  the statement accompanying the new list explained.

INEC noted that “after the said publication, the Commission was served Orders of Court in respect of the nomination of candidates for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and state house of assembly elections.”

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the Orders of Court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the affected constituencies.”

“Consequently, the lists of candidates in respect of the attached Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies, Governorship, and State House of Assembly elections are amended pursuant to the Orders of Court served on the Commission as of December 21, 2022, for upload on the Commission’s website,”  the statement added.

The State Legal Adviser of the Party, Barrister Mudi Irhenede, said he was not aware of the updated list and declined to comment when contacted.

He said, “YYou are just telling me about it right now.” I am not aware. “Let me find out.”

Also, a spokesperson to Mr. Odi, the PDP governorship candidate, Aba Onyike, declined to comment on the new list as he was not aware of it.

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It was not immediately clear which ruling or rulings led to the delisting of the candidates by INEC. Ends