The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has not received any court judgment that nullified primary election of the former governor of Delta stat, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as the Delta south senatorial candidate for All Progressive Congress in the forthcoming Presidential/ National Assembly election.
Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe said this while briefing newsmen in Asaba Wednesday, saying the commission was not aware of any judgment in that direction.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had nullified the primary election of APC for Delta South for not observing relevant sections of Electoral Act, and ordered the party to conduct fresh primary election to be monitored by the INEC
Dr. Omorogbe saidthat his office in Asaba does not handle such legal issues but can only act after receiving a formal directive from the national headquarters of INEC in Abuja.
According to him, “In Asaba we don’t actually handle most of those judgements, it is actually done in Abuja. I am particularly aware of one in Warri area where the judgment was in ten wards that now became twelve wards, and it wanted us to revert back to ten wards. This information came last week, and it was not the best time to address it. So we were able to postpone it till after the election for discussion.
“In terms of the number of court judgments, I have never taken the time to start counting them. I am aware of the judgment for Ethiope West but I will not talk on it until I get something from the commission in terms of a formal letter telling us what it is,” Omorogbe said.
Omorogbe, a native of Edo State said he is Delta State to conduct free and fair elections, and debunked the rumours that he was deliberately posted to the state to allegedly do the bidding of the national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole who had boasted of unseating the incumbent governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the up coming governorship election.
“I have never met Adams Oshiomhole in my life. I left Edo State over 30 years ago, I have never seen Oshiomhole. I am not here to side any party, I am here to run a free and fair election. I don’t really answer to anyone, I will definitely do my best, my doors are open. I am from Edo State, part of it has to do with the fact that I don’t have any stake, it does not bother me, I just want the best for the state where I work.”
