Ebonyi gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has deported the rumour traded on the media that his name was removed from the portal base of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC less than a month before the 2023 governorship polls.
Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
Dr Odii's support group known as the Anyichuks Grassroot Support Organization made this known in a press release endorsed by the Media Director, Abia Onyike on Tuesday.
Earlier, it was gathered that there was anxiety in Ebonyi following the alleged delisting of PDP candidates by the INEC from the list of candidates for the 2023 governorship and National Assembly elections.
The report on the media said INEC's website shows that the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party, Ifeanyi Ọdịi and Senator Igwe Nwagu were conspicuously missing from the updated list.
Also, the names of the three senatorial candidates of the party, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Lazy Ogbe (Ebonyi Central) and Senator Ama Nnachi(Ebonyi South) were missing from the list.
Five out of the six House of Representatives candidates were also not included in the updated list.
Those whose names were missing are Idu Igariwey (Afikpo North/South), Jerry Obasi (Ọhaozara/Onicha/Ivo), Ogbonnia Nwanne (Ikwo/Ezza South), Chukwuma Ofoke (Abakaliki/Izzi), and Victor Aleke (Ebonyi/Ohaukwu).
In the updated list INEC listed Mr Emmanuel Nwoke as the candidate of PDP for the Íshíelu/Ezza North constituency in place of Mr Obinna Nwachukwu who was listed as the candidate in the earlier list released in September.
Also, the Commission listed one Henry Udeh as the Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party(LP) for Ebonyi South instead of Mr Linus Okorie who emerged in a run-off primary conducted late last year.
The amended list was signed by the Secretary of INEC, Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published on the Commission's website.
The Commission explained that the updated list was under various court orders which the commission was bound to abide by.
Reacting, Onyike described the report as a falsehood and urged the general public to disregard the rumour, as according to him, none of the Ebonyi PDP candidates for the 2023 polls was delisted by the INEC.
He said: "Our attention has been drawn to the fake news being circulated by some sections of the press and the social media saying that the names of Ebonyi PDP Candidates have been delisted in the INEC portal based on what they termed as "Court Order."
"We wish to make it abundantly clear that the false report is the handiwork of mischief-makers. It is an orchestrated campaign of calumny master-minded by those individuals and parties who are afraid of the rising profile of PDP in Ebonyi State.
"The report being circulated by these elements is their fabrication which INEC has already disowned. The report should therefore be disregarded.
"It is well known by all and sundry that the issue of Ebonyi State PDP Governorship Primaries had been finally settled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which upheld the nomination of Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii as the authentic Governorship candidate of PDP for the 2023 elections.
"We hereby call on our teeming supporters and the general public to ignore the mischievous publications and continue their preparations for the 2023 general elections.
"Those behind this falsehood are merely looking for temporary relief, based on their fear of the PDP candidates, especially the Governorship candidate of the party, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.
"Sooner than later, they will have no room whatsoever for their perennial lies and propaganda.
"Ebonyians will vote for their choice Candidates and the will of the people shall prevail."
@politicaldesk/Victor Nwegede/National Panel
