More Confusion in Anambra PDP as Keyamo petitions INEC over aggrieved Anambra PDP candidates

Some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, have called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC,
to immediately include their names in the list of candidates for the 2015 national and state assembly elections.
A petition by their solicitor, Mr. Festus Keyamo urged the commission to reverse the removal of their names as PDP candidates by returning to the status quo as ordered by the courts.
It explained that Messrs. Okonkwo Annie, Benedict Obaze and all the nominated PDP candidates for the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Anambra, emerged from the INEC supervised primaries conducted by the Ejike Oguebego led PDP executive committee
It, however, regretted that the names of the candidates were later substituted by INEC after emerging as winners from the congresses and primaries conducted.
Noting that the congress which produced the Ejike Oguebego led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State was equally held under the supervision of INEC in March, 2012, Keyamo specifically urged INEC to return John Okechukwu Emeka, Okonkwo Annie Clement and Ubah Chukwunedum C as senatorial candidates.
For the House of Representatives, he said the candidates should be Offiah Anthony Chukwudi, Julius Oforma O, Anohu Chukwuemeka , Hon. Val Ayika, Nwene Ejike Clement, Uche Ifeoma Obi, Hon. Charles Odedo, Hon. Emma Nweke, Benedict O. Obaze, Ifeyinwa Anazonwu, Ignay A.O Nwene as well all candidates nominated for the House of Assembly by the Ejike Oguebego led exco.
The petition reads: ‘’We remain Solicitors to Senator Okonkwo Annie Clement, Benedict O. Obaze and all the nominated Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates for the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly Elections in Anambra State who emerged from the INEC supervised primaries conducted by the Ejike Oguebego led exco of the PDP in Anambra State (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose instructions we write.
‘’Our clients’ names were published by INEC as the authentic candidates of the PDP at the close of nomination by political parties on January 13 and 27, 2015 having emerged as winners from the congresses and primaries conducted through the Ejike Oguebego-led Exco of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 National and State House of Assembly elections. It must be noted that the primaries that produced our clients were the only ones that were held by INEC in Anambra State as provided in the PDP 2015 Electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act.’
‘’It is also worthy of note that the congress which produced the Ejike Oguebego led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State was equally held under the supervision of INEC in March, 2012. It is beyond dispute that the aforementioned congress and primaries that produced our clients were held with the blessings of INEC. This much was stated by INEC itself in three letters and a press release. The first letter dated 26th July 2013, the second dated 23rd October, 2014, were both written to the PDP National Chairman, the third also dated 23rd October, 2014 was written by INEC to Taiwo Abe & Co. and finally a press release in August, 2013.
‘’Furthermore, we wish to draw your attention to the fact that your Commission and the PDP were expressly mandated by an Order of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt Division in its ruling of September 12, 2013, in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/213/13 between Ejike Oguebego & 2 Ors vs. PDP & 3 Ors to recognize and deal with the Ejike Oguebego led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Anambra State in all election matters in Anambra State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. This Order of Court which is binding on INEC and the PDP is still subsisting, remain extant and in force till date. In compliance with the above Order, your Commission on the 1st of November, 2014 monitored the congress that led to the emergence of the three man ward delegates that participated in the primary elections that produced the candidates of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 general election.’’
‘’Although there has been a plethora of cases in court regarding this matter, none has upturned or reversed the aforestated Order of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt Division. As a matter of fact, it was also in obedience to this Order of court that INEC published the names of our clients as the validly nominated candidates of the PDP in Anambra State for the 2015 National and House of Assemblies Election.’’