Despite Controversy, Delta APC Succeeded In Submission Of Party Candidates’ List To INEC

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), despite the numerous controversies surrounding the primaries of the party has succeeded in the submission of names of all of its candidates contesting the next general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The submission of the list was officially perfected long before others states’ lists were hauled to INEC office in a branded APC bus in Abuja.

Top staff of the commission who didn’t want his name mentioned told BigPen Online that Delta APC has since submitted list of their candidates before the deadline and rush hour on Thursday, last two weeks.

The source said that no court order has stop INEC from receiving list of candidates from the Delta State chapter of the party, saying that Delta State was not part of the states that has problems with governorship and NASS primaries.

Our source disclosed that the only petition from Prof. Pat Utomi against the governorship primary election in Delta State handled by Osunbor-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Appeals Panel for the concluded primaries elections of the party had been dismissed and tagged “overtaken by event”.

It was learnt that the other eight petitions concerning NASS and state Assembly primaries that were upheld because the petitioners won the primaries, but their names substituted had also been settled.

Our source hinted that other issues concerning primaries in Delta State were issues before the court in which INEC has not been stop from receiving candidate lists.

BigPen Online recalls that the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi disclosed that the Commission had scheduled the submission of candidates’ names for the Presidential and National Assembly between October 10 and 18, and deadline for the governorship and state Assemblies election for November 2, and there is no extension.

The source who didn’t specifically say which faction list was accepted by INEC, hinted that the Delta list of candidates for National Assembly primaries and others from the Retired General Lawrence Onoja constituted NWC Electoral Panel were submitted to INEC shortly after the party’s National Convention in Abuja.

BigPen Online gathered that there have been anxiety in Delta State chapter of the party over which list of the candidates would scale through to be submitted to INEC.

The tension which the submission of candidates list had generated would be put to rest when INEC finally announce the names, the source said.