Drama ensued on Friday at the Independent National Electoral Commission, Enugu, when two people presented themselves to collect the certificate of return for the Nsukka/Igboeze South federal constituency.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two people, Mr Ikechukwu Ugwuegede and Dr Patrick Asadu, both members of the Peoples Democratic Party, were engaged in a legal tussle over the party’s candidacy for the election.
Asadu, a member of the House of Representatives, secured a ruling at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recognising him as the rightful candidate for the election.
Ugwuegede, however, appealed the ruling.
The two appeared at the INEC office during the presentation of certificates of return to the governor-elect and National Assembly members-elect but were denied the certificate.
Each of the candidates asked the national commissioner of the INEC, Dame Gladys Nwafor, to be allowed to collect the certificate but the commissioner declined.
Presenting the certificates, Nwafor, who is the INEC’s national commissioner for Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states, urged the elected officials to fulfill their campaign promises to the people.
According to her, today is a very unique day for the INEC and the government of Enugu state.
“We are here to give certificates of return to whom the electorate has given the mandate to serve the people.
“It has not been an easy task for both the commission and the contestants. I call it a divine mandate to serve the people.
“Enugu State is one of the most peaceful states and I am happy to be associated with the state,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Enugu state House of Assembly has ordered the arrest of its accountant general, Paschal Okolie, for failing to show up before the House for the third time.
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