The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has threatened legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged imposition of a candidate on the party ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the immediate-past National Chairman of the NRM and current National Organising Secretary, Isaac-Chigozie Udeh, demanded that INEC disclose who it gave access to the party’s code used to upload the name of the controversial candidate. He warned that failure to comply would result in a lawsuit.
Mr Udeh expressed concern that INEC, which had refused to recognise the party’s National Electoral Committee formed during its emergency convention on January 17, had gone ahead to publish a candidate’s name without the party’s consent.
“INEC rejected all our letters notifying them of our electoral activities and the need for their legal monitoring; yet they went ahead to publish a name not approved by the party’s leadership,” he stated.
Mr Udeh also accused some officials within INEC of working against the interests of the NRM. He specifically named Arabs Joan and her deputy, Nkechi Abu of the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department, alleging that they had a history of making unilateral decisions on behalf of the party without proper authorisation.
He said the actions of the INEC officials contravene Section 2.0 of the commission’s own 2022 Guidelines for Nomination of Candidates, which was designed to ensure transparency and legality in the electoral process.
The NRM called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and hold public institutions and officeholders accountable, describing it as a key component of democratic participation and civic duty.
Editing by Daniel Adejo and Tony Okerafor
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