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The Alliance of Civil Society Organisation of Nigeria (ACSON), yesterday at a press conference in Abuja, gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the candidacy of Chief Willie Obiano, as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the November 16 election or risk court action.
Obiano had been allegedly fingered in double registration in the voters’ register, prompting the All Progressives Congress (APC) to call for Obiano's prosecution being an offense against the electoral law.
Adding its voice to the call yesterday, ACSON president, Alhaji Ali Danjuma, said it had become pertinent to ask INEC to clear the table before it allows Obiano's candidacy to cause a total mess of the electoral process as well as discredit the election in the state.
The group said given the successes of the 2011 general election, not minding its shortcomings, it would amount to dragging back the hands of the clock if Obiano’s alleged crime was left to go unquestioned, especially by the civil society groups, whose jobs he said, it was to sanitise the polity.
"That the name of Chief Willie Obiano, appears twice in the voters’ register of the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable as it negates the principle of fairness and justice as candidates in an election should ordinarily live above board.
"Aside from this, Obiano being fully investigated by INEC and all the security agencies, with a view to applying the full weight of the Electoral Law 2010 as spelt out in Section 12 (2)(3) of the Act, as amended, it is our belief that INEC's immediate withdrawal of his candidacy will ensure the credibility of the Anambra governorship election as well as serve as a deterrent to future politicians.
"It is in this direction that we therefore order INEC to within seven days withdraw Obiano's candidacy as documents in public domain suggest or risk the actions of the civil society groups who would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit to institute democratic culture and discipline amongst politicians and on the polity at large," Danjuma said.
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