Ebonyi 2023: Odii, PDP NASS candidates’ names missing as INEC  list of contestants

From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki

There is a palpable anxiety in the fold of the PDP in Ebonyi State following the delisting of names of its Candidates for the 2023 general elections on the updated list of candidates of political parties released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Checks on the amended list by our Correspondent on INEC’s website shows that the names of the governorship, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii and the deputy governorship candidates of the party, Senator Igwe Nwagu were conspicuously missing.

Also, the names of the three senatorial candidates of the party, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Lazarus Ogbee (Ebonyi Central) and Senator Ama Nnachi(Ebonyi South) were also missing on the list.

Five out of the six House of Representatives Candidates were also not included on the updated list.

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

On the updated list, Mr Emmanuel Nwite was listed as the candidate of PDP for Íshíelu/Ezza North constituency in place of Mr Obinna Nwachukwu who was listed as the candidate on the earlier list released in September.

Also, the Commission listed Mr Henry Udeh as Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party(LP) for Ebonyi South in place of Hon. Linus Okorie who was listed as the candidate on the earlier list released in September.

The amended list was signed by 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 with.

“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 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”

“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.

The State Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barrister Mudi Erhenede in a telephone chat said he was not aware of the updated list and promised to make inquiries. 

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

Mr Abia Onyike, the spokesperson to the PDP Governorship candidate, Mr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii also declined comment on the new list saying, he is not aware of its existence.