The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has ignored a court order on Wednesday, which ordered that Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) be sworn in as the senator to repent Anambra Central in the Eighth Senate.
Unfazed by the court order, APGA flagged off campaign for the district’s rerun election, yesterday and described the Federal High Court, Abuja, order as inconsequential.
At the well-attended event, which doubled as a victory rally for the governorship poll and flag-off for Chief Victor Umeh’s senatorial campaign, the party, led by Governor Willie Obiano said it will not leave any stone unturned to ensure victory at the rerun poll on January 13, 2018.
Addressing the people, Obiano declared himself chairman of Umeh’s Campaign Organisation, and assured he would stop at nothing to ensure Umeh is elected to the Senate. He maintained that Umeh remains a competent voice that will ensure effective representation for not just the Anambra Central, but the entire state and Igboland.
Obiano thanked the party faithful for their hard work which gave the party victory at the just-concluded governorship election. “I want to assure you that the rerun election must hold. Do no mind what they are doing, just get prepared with your PVCs to vote for APGA,” the governor said.
…Okonkwo writes INEC over Certificate of Return
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Against the backdrop of his declaration as the Senator representing Anambra Central, by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding immediate issuance of a Certificate of Return to him, as ordered by the court.
Justice John Tsoho had in a judgment, ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Dr. Okonkwo without delay. He also ordered Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to swear-in Okonkwo, to occupy the vacant seat of Anambra Central.
The December 14, 2017 letter to INEC was titled “Request to issue certificate of return to Dr. Obiora Okonkwo in compliance with judgment of the Federal High court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2014 delivered on December 13, 2017. The letter was signed by his counsel, Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN).
“We respectfully, but firmly, request sir, that you issue/cause to be issued, our client the said Certificate of Return, as ordered by the Federal High Court, forthwith, to enable our client present himself to the leadership of the Senate for inauguration,” a part of the letter read.
|Sun