OBIARUKU/Nigeria: Delta State Chairman, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Prince Henry Eze (JP) has said that the Party leadership will go into legal battle with DSIEC and APC Ukwuani LGA of Delta if the Commission goes ahead to publish the names of the APC Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship Candidates in Ukwuani LGA of Delta State as one of its card carrying members engaged in anti-party, contravenes DSIEC Guidelines number 10, Page 4 of the DSIEC Guidelines for the LGC General Election Schedule for Saturday, 6th March, 2021
Delta APM State Chairman stated that the party was not consulted to carry out its function by its candidate in a letter of withdrawal to DSIEC Quoted DSIEC Guidelines number 10, Page 4, which States thus: “That candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him, and delivered by himself, to his political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall forward the original copy of the said letter of withdrawal to the Commission not later than 7 days to the election”.
Read The Letter in Full:
The Chairman,
Delta State Independent Electoral Commission,
Asaba,
Delta State.
A LETTER OF COMPLAINT/PROTEST
I wish to bring to your knowledge a case of electoral duplication involving one Onah Success Onyeka, a counsellorship candidate in my Party, ALLIED PEOPLES MOVEMENT (APM) in Umuaja/Obi-Obeti DSIEC 18, with the contact address of No.3, Ibobo Street, Umuaja, Ukwuani LGA, Delta State.
The said Onah Success Onyeka, a card carrying member of my Party, APM had duly filled his form 002 and in section (8) has agreed to be on the sponsorship of the APM for the Councillorship position in the March 6, 2021 Local Government election in Delta State. Up till the time of writing, Onah Success Onyeka has not withdrawn his membership of APM neither has he notified the Party in writing of his intention to withdraw his candidature as a Councillorship nominee of my Party.
It is therefore surprising to learn that this same councillorship candidate under APM for the Umuaja/Obi-Obeti DSIEC 18 ward is also the Vice-Chairmanship candidate for the APC in Ukwuani Local Government at the same time. It is also surprising that in the DSIEC list of candidates for different elective positions recently published, the name of Onah Success Onyeka appeared in two places simultaneously – first as an APM cleared candidate and secondly as an APC cleared candidate. My Party considers this development as an embarrassing error on the part of DSIEC. We also wish to state that the date of substitution/withdrawal of candidates in line with DSIEC timetable lapsed as at 20th January, 2021.
It should be noted by all Political Parties and Stakeholders that the law is very clear in matters such as this. The DSIEC timetable on withdrawal of candidates states inter alia:
“A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to his Political Party that nominated him for the election and the Political Party shall forward the original copy of the said letter of withdrawal to the Commission not later than seven (7) days to the election.
In this case, the APM candidate, Onyeka Success Onah, a card carrying member of our Party did not forward any notice to the Party indicating his intention to withdraw his candidature. He rather secretly picked the nomination form of another Party, APC and caused an embarrassment by being a candidate in two different Political Parties for the March 6, 2021 Local Government elections in Delta State.
The purpose of this complaint/protest letter is to ask DSIEC to urgently disqualify the APC from contesting the Chairmanship election in Ukwuani Local Government in order to forestall a legal action from our Party.
Besides, it should be noted that the said Onah Success Onyeka deposed to a sworn affidavit in the Magistrate Court dated 5th January, 2021 that he is a member of APM and went further to swear to another affidavit in the Magistrate Court that he is a member of APC. These conflicting, double declaration border on perjury and provides enough reason for disqualification of the erring APC from contesting the Chairmanship election in Ukwuani Local Government.
We look forward to your doing the needful in order for our Party to save the time and cost of seeking legal redress.
Attached herewith are copies of:
DSIEC Form 002 filled by Onah Success Onyeka
Party nomination form filled by Onah Success Onyeka
Onah Success Party Membership Card.
Yours faithfully,
PRINCE HENRY J.E, EZE (JP)
APM Chairman, Delta State.
07031900631.
