CONTRARY to the earlier media reports, information now available to the media shows that Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, is still the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

It would be recalled that there was a media publication which quoted the federal high court as having stopped Obiano as contesting as the governorship candidate of the APGA in the coming Anambra State election.

In a quick reaction, a statement made available and signed Ifeanyi Mbaeri, national legal adviser of the APGA, backed with legal documents from the federal high court Abuja affirmed the fact that the incumbent governor remains the authentic candidate of the party in the coming governorship election in the state.

The statement explained that following the spread of spurious and deliberate false news by some online platforms which erroneously claim that a federal high court sitting in Abuja had restrained Obiano from parading himself as the authentic candidate of APGA in the forthcoming gubernatorial polls in Anambra State. Hence, the statement said it had become necessary to provide immediate clarifications to avoid further confusion amongst the party faithful and discerning members of the public.

The statement said that there was no such order or ruling by any court in Abuja or anywhere in Nigeria, adding that Obiano is still the authentic candidate of the APGA.

“We are aware that one Martin Agbaso approached the Federal High Court, Abuja through an originating summons seeking some reliefs. The reliefs include; an exparte’ application for interim injunction restraining His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano as the authentic candidate of APGA; to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing him as APGA flag-bearer, and order for substituted service of the court processes.

“However, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice J.T. Tsoho declined the appliacnts’ request for an interim order of injunction restraining both INEC and Chief Obiano. The Honourable judge merely agreed that Chief Willie Obiano can be served the court processes by substituted means hence the publication in Sun Newspapers of today 30/10/2017 and an order for accelerated hearing of the suit. The court’s ruling was merely procedural and is to ensure that parties to the matter are duly informed.

“As a law abiding political party whose gubernatorial candidate emerged through the most transparent process observed and certified by the electoral umpire, APGA is confident that no amount of blackmail or false rumour can stop its march to victory in the November polls.

“Therefore Ndi Anambra and all APGA faithful are urged to disregard the antics of the desperate opposition who have resorted to distorting the facts using pliable internet habitués to peddle misleading news,” the statement said.

– Oct 31, 2017 @ 14:56 GMT |