…denies presenting candidate
The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has expressed dismay over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s alleged imposition of a candidate on it concerning the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.
The party said it was taken aback that the same INEC that has refused to recognise its National Electoral Committee (NEC), constituted at its last emergency convention held on January 17, wondered how the same electoral body arrived at publishing the name of a candidate for the same party for the forthcoming Anambra election.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Isaac Chigozie Udeh (who is now the National Organizing Secretary of the NRM) noted that although, his name remains the party’s Chairman in INEC’s record and website, he, at no time, submitted any candidate’s name to the electoral body for his party in respect of the Anambra election.
Udeh said, “On January 16, 2025, we received an order compelling INEC to monitor our emergency national convention slated for January 17, 2025. INEC was duly notified.”
“The emergency national convention was held, and Chief Edozie Njoku and other national executives were elected. I stepped down (as the National Chairman) to become the National Organising Secretary of the party.
“On March 5, 2025, Hon. Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, went further to give a judgment impelling INEC to accept and recognise the outcome of the January 17, 2025, emergency national convention of the party.”
Udeh stated that despite being notified about the January 16 order and March 5 judgment, INEC allegedly “decided to monitor an illegal NEC meeting on January 27, 2025, and the purported Emergency National Convention of April 14, 2025.
“In total defiance to the subsisting court order impelling INEC to recognize the national executives of the Party that emerged from January 17, 2025, INEC went ahead to reject all the letters we wrote notifying them of the our electoral activities in preparation for the Anambra governorship election and they need for them to monitor it as required by the law.
“Brazenly, INEC chose to monitor the illegal governorship primaries organised by Mr. Chinedu Obi, the National Welfare Officer of the party.”
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Udeh accused some identified INEC officials of allegedly subverting the intention and efforts of the NRM to function effectively as a political party under a new leadership led by Edozie Njoku.
He accused the said officials of misleading INEC to violate Subsection 2.5 (a), (b) and (d) of the Electoral Act 2022 relating to how a political party submit its candidates’ list and particulars to INEC.
Udeh added: “It is abundantly clear that the purported name inserted against NRM, in the Anambra governorship election, does not have the approval of the legally recognised NRM National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, nor does it have my endorsement, the man whose name still adorns the commission’s website.”
He accused the said INEC officials of engaging in forgery, wondering how they came about his signature and that of Njoku.
Udeh noted that by the law, “Outside the two of us, no other person(s) has the right to sign or authenticate the party’s candidate.
“Our lawyers have been contacted to act accordingly in addressing this very disturbing scenario.
“We urge Nigerians that holding public office holders accountable is part of our civic duty. No one should shy away from it,” Udeh said.