Abang Out, Ochinke in, as INEC Releases Final List for National Elections, doesn't stop rerun.

 

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By Pospi Otuson, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had earlier released the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates of all the political parties contesting next year’s general election.

Unfortunately, Popular Front-line contender, business tycoon and philanthropist, Hon. Abang Pius Besong who rejected the party primary for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency held in may over alleged fraud and irregularities, didn't make the list.

In can be recalled that after the party's primaries, Hon Abang had immediately written to the state leaderships of the People's Democratic Party, after the returning officer declared Barr. Attah Ochinke, winner of the Primary Elections with 27 votes.



According to Mr. Abang Pius Besong, during the accreditation process, seven persons had no means of identification and could not be identified even by people from same ward, but was imposed to the returning officer who was under threat by thugs hired by Barr. Attah Ochinke. 

Thus, while emanated into a legal battle between Ochinke and Abang who is challenging him on the grounds that the election process was marred with irregularities, a Federal High Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by Hon. Justice I.L. Ojukwu, had ordered the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to reconduct a fresh primaries for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency before the recent publication by INEC


Hence, it is also important to understand that the INEC list also omitted Hon. Alvin Ochang who had defected to the Labour party, and had clinched the party's ticket after the fraudulent primary ravel.

However, the court order had not been served to INEC before the release of candidates list and based on this order, the rerun will still take place.