The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has gone to court to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for disqualifying its candidate, Natasha Akpoti from the November governorship election in Kogi State.The National Chairman of the party, Professor Tunde Adeniran, who spoke to news men today, Wednesday in Abuja, faulted the claim by INEC that Natasha Akpoti’s running mate is under aged for which reason it disqualified the party from contesting the election.
He described such claim as “unwarranted insult, falsification of information and misrepresentation of our party.”
He said that the deputy governorship candidate of the party is not a product of the party’s primary but a nomination of the‘governorship candidate, and that she has the prerogative to change or withdraw this candidate.
“Why was Natasha refused this right?
“There have been growing insinuations and suspicious that the actions of INEC to clamp down on our candidate, Natasha Akpoti, might be linked to influence, manipulations and interests outside of INEC itself. Why is INEC allowing itself to be influenced by other interests in the case of Natasha? Why did the INEC’s spokesman have to lie against SDP on television?
“This unwarranted disqualification action by INEC has further called to question the integrity and credibility of democratic institutions in Nigeria. Why would INEC be ready to undermine or dent the system because of Natasha?
“In conclusion, the SDP has resorted to court action to seek justice and we enjoin Kogi electorate and the teeming supporters of Barrister Akpoti to keep faith because we will overcome. We will get justice and our Natasha will certainly be on the ballot in November 16, governorship election. She will be voted for massively and she will win the election.”
INEC’s National Commissioner and Spokesma, Festus Okoye had, on a television programme, said that the leadership of SDP accepted that the party would not be included on the ballot for the contest because it fielded an underage deputy candidate.
