ANAMBRA ELECTION: Vice President Jonathan Says INEC Cannot Stop PDP

Abuja (THEWILL) - Nigerian Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot stop the party or its governorship candidate from contesting the February 2011 election in Anambra State.

The electoral commission had deliberately omitted the name of Professor Charles Soludo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the list of eligible candidates due to an Appeal Court ruling urging it to disregard his candidacy pending when it determines a suit filed against his nomination by two party members.

Speaking at the 49th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, the vice president told the executives that the Supreme Court had earlier made a ruling on a similar matter where it said political parties were supreme when it comes to choosing candidates for elections and assured that no court would stop the party from contesting the governorship poll.

He argued that the courts would eventually lay to rest the controversies surrounding Prof. Soludo’s candidacy insisting that he remains the party’s choice in the election. 

Meanwhile, analysts continue to maintain that the Anambra State governorship election will be tightly contested between the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi of APGA, Dr. Chris Ngige of AC, Dr. Andy Uba of LP and whoever the PDP eventually fields.