APGA's Iyom Ekwunife sues Obiano, Asks to be declared APGA Candidate 2013 primaries, Obi refuses to Settle

 Federal High Court, Awka, in suit number FHC/AWK/CS/281/2013

 Ekwunife is also asking the court to declare her as the candidate of APGA.

The first runner-up in the Anambra governorship primaries of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, has gone  to court to challenge the eligibility of the party’s candidate in the November 16 election, Chief Willie Obiano.

Ekwunife, a member of the House of Representatives, is contending that the alleged double registration status of Obiano with the Independent National Electoral Commission as a voter disqualified him from contesting the election.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Awka, in suit number FHC/AWK/CS/281/2013, Ekwunife is also asking the court to declare her as the candidate of APGA.

Obiano, APGA and INEC are the defendants in the suit. No date has been fixed for hearing in the suit.

Ekwunife is also seeking, among other reliefs, that INEC should be compelled to recognise her as the candidate of the party for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State, based on Obiano’s double registration.

Obiano was alleged to have registered in Lagos and Anambra states respectively, which amounts to double registration as stipulated by the electoral board.

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AWKA — All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano may be replaced by his first runner-up in the party primaries, Iyom Uche Ekwunife, following the problems he was experiencing over allegations of double registration as a voter.

Obiano allegedly registered as a voter in Lagos and registered again in Awka, the Anambra State capital instead of his ward in Aguleri town, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

The Anambra State voter’s card with VIN number 90f5B15E7D378 was reportedly issued to Obiano on September 3, 2013.

Sources told Vanguard that following revelations of the double registration, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu had warned that the action would attract severe sanctions as provided in the Electoral Act.

Onukaogu explained that in an event of a voter relocating to another town, he or she could only apply for transfer of registration to his new location and not to engage in double registration, prompting the party to mull the idea of replacing the governorship candidate with Ekwunife, who is a member of the House of Representatives.