Peter Obi’s 2010 Governorship race in Possible Deadlock
The phenomenal political unrest in the Anambra state has once again reappeared, as all attempts by the sitting governor, Peter Obi to run for a second term in office may have suffered another setback going by feelers coming in from Abuja Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory.
Governor obi's faction of the All Peoples' Grand Alliance (APGA) has been denied the relevant forms for the elections.
The national chairman, of a faction of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, who picked up the forms at the independent national electoral commission headquarters in Abuja, said it is the end of the road for the governor who belongs to another faction which he says is not recognized by INEC.
These sheer irregularities started in September when a factional All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) claimed to be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at its national convention in Abuja, expelled Anambra State governor, Peter Obi and Victor Umeh (factional national chairman) from the party.
The party also added five years to the tenure of the party's founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie. APGA's constitution states that the founding chairman has automatic eight-year tenure if he pleases but the party members said due to the crisis which has distracted Okorie's attention for five years; five years have been added to his tenure.
On Obi, the party claimed that he had tarnished the image of APGA and that he remained sacked from the party. A motion by one Obinna Emenike through which the Anambra governor was expelled reads in part: "Following the dissident activities and misconduct of Mr. Peter Obi, aimed at tarnishing and destroying the nurtured image and credibility of the APGA, as a political party, a special disciplinary committee was set up by the state executive committee to investigate allegations of misconduct. The SEC received, deliberated and adopted all the recommendations of the disciplinary committee made in accordance with Article 21, Rule 3 (a), (b), (c) (d) and (e) and Rule 4 (a) (v) (vii) of our constitution.
According to them recommendations of their disciplinary committee and the decision of SEC was in compliance with the rules of fair hearing as provided in the 1999 Constitution and the provisions of the constitution of APGA. And that the convention ratifies the decision of the NEC that Mr. Peter Obi is expelled from APGA and it is hereby ratified that Mr. Peter Obi is expelled from APGA.
On the same allegations of misconduct, the convention also ratified the expulsion of Okorie's contender to the seat of APGA chairman, Victor Umeh. Accepting the developments in the party, Okorie said a new dawn had come to APGA, adding that the party had gone through the "furnace" to emerge stronger. APGA has suffered demolition and gone through the hot crucible of furnace. What we have from now is a brand new party that has all the fine qualities and resilience of gold. Nigerians should expect a more robust, more radical and more vibrant progressive political encounters in Nigeria.
Whether Governor Peter Obi will go to Court once again to challenge this unfair treatment and get justice in his favour going by the alleged INEC's biased roles, Anambrarians and Nigerians at large should keep their fingers crossed.
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Development/ Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com