THEWILL - Expanding the National Conversation: ANAMBRA ELECTION: Vice President Jonathan Says INEC Cannot Stop PDP

ANAMBRA ELECTION: Vice President Jonathan Says INEC Cannot Stop PDP
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Our Reporter on 10/12/2009 20:27:00
 
Abuja (THEWILL) - Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot stop the party or its
governorship candidate from contesting the February 2011 election in Anambra
State.
The electoral commission had deliberately omitted the name of Professor Charles
Soludo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the list of eligible
candidates due to an Appeal Court ruling urging it to disregard his candidacy
pending when it determines a suit filed against his nomination by two party
members.
Speaking at the 49th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the
party, the vice president told the executives that the Supreme Court had earlier
made a ruling on a similar matter where it said political parties were supreme
when it comes to choosing candidates for elections and assured that no court
would stop the party from contesting the governorship poll.
He argued that the courts would eventually lay to rest the controversies
surrounding Prof. Soludo’s candidacy insisting that he remains the party’s
choice in the election.
Meanwhile, analysts continue to maintain that the Anambra State governorship
election will be tightly contested between the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi of
APGA, Dr. Chris Ngige of AC, Dr. Andy Uba of LP and whoever the PDP eventually
fields.