By Akinwale Kasali
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has ordered the Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to conduct a fresh Governorship Primary.
The order for a fresh Primary follows the death of the Party’s Governorship Candidate, Professor Uche Ikonne. Ikonne, a Professor of Optometry and a former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, died Wednesday morning at the National Hospital Abuja.
Giving the directive, Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, said the Party has 14 days within which to choose a replacement, failing which it would not field any Governorship Candidate against the March 11, 2023, election.
Okoye said since the election is still a little over one month away, the PDP still has a window within which to pick a replacement for Professor Ikonne.
According to him, “if a candidate dies when polls have commenced, section 34(3)(b) of the Act provides that the Running mate shall continue with the election and nominate a new Running mate”
Okoye: “Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2022, is clear, unambiguous and unequivocal that a political party shall be allowed to change or substitute its Candidate whose name has been submitted to the Commission under Section 29 of the Electoral Act in the case of death or withdrawal, provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a Candidate, the Political Party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh Primary to produce and submit a fresh Candidate to the Commission for the Election concerned.
“The period slated in the timetable and schedule of activities for the withdrawal of the Candidates has lapsed. In the said timetable the last days for withdrawal by Governorship and State Assembly Candidates was August 12, 2022.
“Moreover, Section 31 of the Act makes it clear that a candidate can only withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing submitted to the Political Party that nominated him, and such must be conveyed to the political party not later than 90 days to election.”
Professor Ikonne hailed from Agburuike-Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State. He was aged 66 years old.
