Senator Hope Uzodimma’s name has eventually been pasted as the governorship candidate of the Imo state All Progressive Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The name of Uzodimma, was pasted at the INEC, office along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, with Akaolisa Cyprain Okechukwu, as his running mate.
Vanguard visited the INEC, office at about 18:45 pm and kept vigil for the list to be pasted and at about 07:52 pm Uzodimma’s name was displayed as the authentic governorship flag-bearer of APC, in Imo state.
This is coming about after 10 hours, INEC, pasted other governorship names of various political parties, excluding that of APC.
A source told Vanguard that, “Immediately, the court struck out the order by the Okorocha’s faction stopping the name of Senator Uzodimma, from publishing as the candidate of the party.
“The judgement was taken to the National headquarters of INEC, and an order was given that the name of Hope should be pasted immediately.
“When the order came, to INEC in Owerri, the administrative head was not on sit but the legal adviser received the order from the National headquarters and he went on.
“They have just acted not as in their own power but according to the power of the court.”
Earlier, INEC displayed the names and qualifications of candidates of political parties running for the Imo state governorship election with no candidate listed for the APC.
Some of the candidate who made the list include the candidates of the Peoples Democratic party, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Mr. Okey Eze of the Social Democratic Party; Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressives Grand Alliance; Mr. Ibe Kenechukwu (Accord Party); Mr. Linus Okorie (Young Progressives Party); Chief Ike . C. Ibe (Independent Democrats); Hon. Tony Nwulu (United Progressives Party); Mr. Ngozi Olehi (All Grassroots Alliance); Mr. Ukaegbu Joesph Ikechukwu (Labour Party) and Mr. Ejike Chukwu (African Democratic Party).
Five female governorship candidates also made the list. They are Mrs. Joy Emeziem (GPN); Ijeoma Onwubuariri (NDLP); Mercy Adaku Ibeh (DP); Onyeka Immaculata Umunakwe (AAP) and Mrs. Nkemjika Ahumonye Ihemadu of the National Conscience Party.
INEC had yesterday displayed a provisional list of governorship candidates of 67 registered political parties for the Imo governorship election with the APC candidate conspicuously missing.
Nwosu who blamed the exclusion of APC from the list on the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole who he accused of ‘mindless impunity’ that may undermine the overall chances of the party at the general elections.
Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for promoting internal democracy, he described the decision of the Oshiomhole to substitute the names of those that won the primary elections with names of those that didn’t as undemocratic.
According to Nwosu, “I want to thank the National Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu for adhering to the rule of law by obeying subsisting Court Order as it concerns the Imo APC. I did not know why Oshiomhole should insist on changing the name of people that won primary elections with that of those that never won. In my own case I won the governorship primary, I have Police report, DSS report and INEC report affirming my elections as the APC governorship candidate in Imo.”
Nwosu, however, expressed confidence in the court and optimism that he will reclaim his mandate.