Three senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, during the weekend received disqualification over some technical and court related issues.
They include former Anambra PDP flag bearer in the just concluded election, Valentine Chineto Ozigbo.
According to reports gathered, Mr Ozigbo was disqualified by the PDP screening committee because he is still the candidate of PDP in the Anambra state November 6 governorship election.
The report further noted that the screening panel reasoned that since some political parties and candidates in the November 6 governorship election are challenging the outcome of the election at the State election petition tribunal, that it will amount to double nomination for him to remain that candidate of PDP in the governorship election and also candidate of PDP in Anambra state governorship election.
The screening committee said that the process of the November 6 governorship election is yet to be concluded until the tribunal takes a decision on it. They also reasoned that if the tribunal nullifies the governorship and order for a fresh election, it would amount to Ozigbo contesting for both guber and senatatorial between now and 2023. It was on that ground that Ozigbo was disqualified.
Contributing, an Anambra born veteran journalist asserted that the “The reason for disqualifying Ozigbo is not cogent. Technically, the Anambra Election Tribunal ended the day; the Supreme Court ruled that Andy Uba that instituted the tribunal case was not a candidate in the November 6 governorship poll”.
“Besides, neither Ozigbo nor PDP is at the election tribunal, by the last time I check, as parties in the suit. So, technically, also, they are out of the Anambra November 6 polls, having not filed their case appropriately in that respect”.
Another, Anambra governoship aspirant under the platform of Social Democratic Party was also disqualified.
According to the report, Obinna Uzo has same issue with Valentine Ozigbo. The tribunal said he was a governorship candidate of SDP in the November 6 Anambra state governorship election. And since the matter is yet to be concluded at the tribunal, it will amount to double nomination, allowing him to contest the Anambra South Senatorial election.
While the third is Chuma Nzeribe.
The screening panel in their report stated that Chief Chuma Nzeribe has a court case in which he was declared wanted by the court. He was disqualified based on this ground.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach any othe above candidates for reaction proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.