2023: Stakeholders react to removal of Ebonyi PDP candidate names from INEC portal

• INEC has been accused of removing the names of some PPD candidates from its website ahead of the 2023 elections
• The allegation was made by the Association of Ebonyi Sociocultural Indigenous in the Diaspora in a statement sent to journalists.
• Those concerned also alleged that some PPD bosses are part of the plot to sabotage the party before the polls.

FCT, Abuja – The Association of Ebonyi Sociocultural Indigenous in the Diaspora (AEISCID) has blamed dirty politics for the removal of the names of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) candidates from the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, the group that had earlier declared its support for the Ebonyi State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Ifeanyi chief Chukwuma Odii, called on voters and party supporters to remain calm about the development, insisting there was no reason alarm.

In a statement sent to legit.ng on Wednesday, January 18 by the president of the AEISCID, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, the group warned INEC to beware of the antics of some fifth columnists within its ranks and archives.

According to the statement, the Nigerian Supreme Court, in September 2022, twice declared Odii and all ticketed candidates under his lineup as the bona fide PDP candidates.

Part of the statement read:

“We at AEISCID received the surprising and trending news of the sudden disappearance of the names of the candidates for the National Assembly of the opposition PDP in Ebonyi state from the INEC portal with many reservations.

“For us, we regard this sad development as strange politics taken too far by those we believe should unite to ensure the party wins the general elections on February 25 and March 11 in Ebonyi State.

“This group is aware of the many political disputes that dominated the Ebonyi PDP before, during and even after the party’s primaries.

“AESICID is also aware of the Nigerian Supreme Court decisions in September last year whereby the Supreme Court twice declared a business tycoon, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, and all candidates holding tickets under his line as the real candidates of the party.

“As a good party man who is genuinely interested in party peace, unity and stability, this socio-cultural group is also aware of the many commendable efforts and proposals made by Odii and indeed his team to reconcile and unite all aggrieved party members”.

The group said that according to its findings, some of the party’s leaders are plotting and hoping to sabotage the PDP’s efforts to win back the state through ballot papers.

He described the move as dangerous politics taken to the extreme, adding that such PPD bosses have to team up with some outside forces to sabotage the party.

Calling on the people of Ebonyi to massively support Chief Odii as the state’s next governor, the group said the PDP gubernatorial candidate is a credible alternative to satisfy the yearnings of Ebonyians.

INEC finally publishes list of 93.4 million registered voters

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2023 general election, INEC has revealed that there are 93.4 million registered voters in Nigeria.

This was announced by Mahmood Yakubu, president of INEC, on Wednesday, January 11, in a meeting with the political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

At the meeting, Yakubu submitted the voter registration to political parties in accordance with the electoral act.

2023: UN and ECOWAS warn Nigeria against electoral violence

Meanwhile, the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday 17 January warned Nigeria against violence in this year’s general elections.

They gave the warning in Jos, Plateau State, in an interactive engagement and mediation training with some stakeholders.

The international organization also stated that Nigeria cannot afford any crisis, noting that it would affect the West African region.

Source: Legit.ng