Iwu Removes Anambra REC, Drops Soludo On Agency’s List

Two months to the February 6, Governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chief Rowland Uwa.

The INEC, Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, who announced this on Wednesday in Akwa, said the removal was a routine measure.

INEC presented a list of governorship candidates at the stakeholders forum of the 25 governorship candidates Wednesday. The embattled candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s name was however missing. Former Governor, Dr. Andy Uba’s name was on the list for Labour Party (LP).

Iwu explained that since PDP and Soludo were involved in litigation, INEC had to follow the rule of law. Also in the list were Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu: Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Mrs. Njideka Ugochi Anyadike, National Advance Party (NAP).

Mrs. Anyadike had lost to Chief Mike Areh in the LP’s primaries on October 17.

PDP dashed Ukachukwu’s hope when it picked Soludo. Dr. Mike Aghadinuno’s name appeared as the running mate to  Mrs. Uche Lilian. Ekwunife’s of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). Ekwunife’s former running mate Emika Igwilo from Anambra South was dropped for Aghadinuno, who is from Anambra North.

The INEC boss warned the candidates against rigging. “We have monitored seven elections in this state since 1999 and we also know what you can do and we also know the tricks you play, let me also explain that we will not accept any result coming from any of the so-called difficult terrain because that is the expertise of this state”, he said.

Outgoing REC Uwa said electoral violence and other offences are challenges to the country’s electoral process. “It is our hope that this forum will seriously address this issue,  political actors and candidates must at the end of this forum, commit themselves to good conduct during campaigns, electioneering and on the election day”, he said. “Party leaders should be reminded of the political parties Code of Conduct which they drafted in 2007 and promised to uphold, this Code of Conduct is very relevant in this election as it was in 2007”.

“If the parties play their role properly, the issue of vote rigging will be minimised”, he said. The new LP candidate Dr. Uba, whose running mate INEC named as Ndife Edwin, was absent at the meeting.