The controversies trailing the election of
Alphonsus Igbeke as Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial
District surfaced at the National Assembly on Monday as he was not
allowed into the chambers to take his oath of office.
While the Clerk of the Senate, Ben Efeture, did a roll call of senators-elect in preparation for their inauguration, he omitted the name of the senator representing Anambra North.
He was also not called when the state-by-state call was made for senators to take their oath of office. Only Andy Uba and Chris Ngige were mentioned from Anambra State.
Although, there was no official clarification on Igbeke, our correspondent gathered that a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission, through the Clerk to the National Assembly late on Sunday was all that was required to remove Igbeke’s name from the list.
It was learnt that INEC had asked the National Assembly to put on hold the inauguration of Igbeke following the controversies surrounding his election to the Senate.
INEC had earlier issued Igbeke a Certificate of Return after results presented to it suggested that he won the election.
But new developments had indicated that there were allegations that Igbeke forged the results upon which the certificate was presented to him.
He was said to have reported to the National Assembly on Sunday to do his accreditation and submitted his letter.
When he appeared on Monday morning for accreditation, he was informed of the development and prevented from entering the chambers.
But the embattled legislator has stated that INEC, having issued him a Certificate of Return, is now functius officio, and lacks the power under the Electoral Act to withdraw the certificate.
According to him, the power to invalidate a return now lies with the Election Petitions Tribunal.
He said, “INEC cannot validly issue two certificates of return in respect of one election. In order words, the commission lacks the power to nullify a certificate of return it issued, pursuant to Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 and, or replace it with another one in respect of the same except where the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, as the case may be, nullifies the earlier certificate of return issued to a candidate in the said election.”
Describing his ordeal as a travesty of justice, Igbeke said he was a victim of a political gang-up among his opponents consisting of an unnamed the cabal in Anambra State PDP and INEC.
He said, “This is the handiwork of the same cabal which has been sponsoring falsehood and allegation of forgery of court judgment against me in a case in which INEC was fully represented.
“I believe that the end justifies the means. Nigerians will be shocked at the outcome of this alleged forgery case. With what is happening now, Nigerians can see the level of conspiracy between the cabal in the politics of Anambra state and INEC.”
The commission’s letter with ref. No. INEC/LEG/CAN/1 dated June 4, which stopped Igbeke’s inauguration was signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama and sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
By Oluwole Josiah and Friday Olokor Courtesy Of: Punch
While the Clerk of the Senate, Ben Efeture, did a roll call of senators-elect in preparation for their inauguration, he omitted the name of the senator representing Anambra North.
He was also not called when the state-by-state call was made for senators to take their oath of office. Only Andy Uba and Chris Ngige were mentioned from Anambra State.
Although, there was no official clarification on Igbeke, our correspondent gathered that a letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission, through the Clerk to the National Assembly late on Sunday was all that was required to remove Igbeke’s name from the list.
It was learnt that INEC had asked the National Assembly to put on hold the inauguration of Igbeke following the controversies surrounding his election to the Senate.
INEC had earlier issued Igbeke a Certificate of Return after results presented to it suggested that he won the election.
But new developments had indicated that there were allegations that Igbeke forged the results upon which the certificate was presented to him.
He was said to have reported to the National Assembly on Sunday to do his accreditation and submitted his letter.
When he appeared on Monday morning for accreditation, he was informed of the development and prevented from entering the chambers.
But the embattled legislator has stated that INEC, having issued him a Certificate of Return, is now functius officio, and lacks the power under the Electoral Act to withdraw the certificate.
According to him, the power to invalidate a return now lies with the Election Petitions Tribunal.
He said, “INEC cannot validly issue two certificates of return in respect of one election. In order words, the commission lacks the power to nullify a certificate of return it issued, pursuant to Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 and, or replace it with another one in respect of the same except where the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, as the case may be, nullifies the earlier certificate of return issued to a candidate in the said election.”
Describing his ordeal as a travesty of justice, Igbeke said he was a victim of a political gang-up among his opponents consisting of an unnamed the cabal in Anambra State PDP and INEC.
He said, “This is the handiwork of the same cabal which has been sponsoring falsehood and allegation of forgery of court judgment against me in a case in which INEC was fully represented.
“I believe that the end justifies the means. Nigerians will be shocked at the outcome of this alleged forgery case. With what is happening now, Nigerians can see the level of conspiracy between the cabal in the politics of Anambra state and INEC.”
The commission’s letter with ref. No. INEC/LEG/CAN/1 dated June 4, which stopped Igbeke’s inauguration was signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama and sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
By Oluwole Josiah and Friday Olokor Courtesy Of: Punch
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