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Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

There is anxiety in Ebonyi State following the delisting of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the governorship and National Assembly elections.

A check on INEC’s website shows the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party, Ifeanyi Odi and Senator Igwe Nwagu were conspicuously missing from the updated list.

The three senatorial candidates of the party, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North); Lazy Ogbe (Ebonyi Central) and Senator Ama Nnachi(Ebonyi South) were also missing from the list.

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

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

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

According to Premium Times, 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 run-off primary conducted late last year.

The amended list was signed by Secretary of INEC, Rose Oriaran-Anthony Vidvertoand 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.

It said: “The commission published the final list of candidates for presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections on 20th September, 2022 and governorship and state House of Assembly elections on 4th October, 2022 in accordance with the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general election”, 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”

“It is worthy of note that the list of candidates was amended in Amendment No. 1 published on the commission’s website on 3rd November, 2022 pursuant to Court Orders and Death”

“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 at 21s December, 2022 for upload on the Commission’s website”, the statement added.

Ebonyi PDP Legal Adviser, Mudi Irhenede said he was not aware of the updated list and declined to comment when contacted.

He said:” You are just telling me about it right now. I am not aware. Let me find out”.

PDP governorship candidate, Abia Onyike, also declined comment on the new list as he was not aware of its existence.

Ebonyi PDP has been embroiled in crisis following the primaries which held last year.

Two parallel primaries held in the State with two governorship candidates, Ifeanyi Odii and Senator Obinna Ogba emerging from the two primaries

The same situation occurred in the National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries.

The situation led to cuts and counter-suits in various courts across the country as candidates attempted to outwit each other for the ticket.

There was also a battle for the state chairmanship of the party between Mr. Silas Onu and Tochukwu Okorie.

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