JUST IN: We Don’t Have Any Court Order Barring Uduaghan From Senate Polls – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Wednesday says it has no court judgment barring Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, the APC Delta South senatorial candidate from participating in the re-scheduled National Assembly election slated for this Saturday, February 23.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Delta State, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe stated this on Wednesday in Asaba while briefing newsmen on the preparation of the commission for the rescheduled polls.

Specifically, Omorogbe said his office is not aware of any court judgment nullifying the nomination of former governor of the state as the Delta South senatorial districth candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

BIGPEN NIGERIA had reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had nullified the primary election of APC for Delta South for non-conformity with relevant sections of Electoral Act, and ordered the party to conduct fresh exercise to be monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the Delta State INEC’s REC told journalists that he is not aware of the purported court judgment, saying that his office in Asaba does not handle such legal issues but can only act after receiving a formal directive from the national headquarters of INEC in Abuja.

“In Asaba we don’t actually handle most of those judgements, it is actually done in Abuja. I am particularly aware of one in Warri area where the judgment was in ten wards that now became twelve wards, and it wanted us to revert back to ten wards. This information came last week, and it was not the best time to address it. So we were able to postpone it till after the election for discussion. 

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“In terms of the number of court judgments, I have never taken the time to start counting them. I am aware of the judgment for Ethiope West but I will not talk on it until I get something from the commission in terms of a formal letter telling us what it is,” Omorogbe said.

Omorogbe, a native of Edo State said he is Delta State to conduct free and fair elections, and debunked the rumours in some quarters that he was deliberately posted to the state to allegedly do the bidding of the national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole who had consistently boasted of unseating the incumbent governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9 governorship election. 

“I have never met Adams Oshiomhole in my life. I left Edo State over 30 years ago, I have never seen Oshiomhole. I am not here to side any party, I am here to run a free and fair election. I don’t really answer to anyone, I will definitely do my best, my doors are open. I am from Edo State, part of it has to do with the fact that I don’t have any stake, it does not bother me, I just want the best for the state where I work,” he stressed.