— 15th December 2017
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
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.