May 14, 2007

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

NCP DRAGS ABSIEC TO COURT

 

The National Conscience Party (Abia State Chapter) has repeatedly made it clear to all and sundry that it is not irrevocably committed to winning elections but uncompromisingly dedicated to ensuring that democratic principles are observed in elections.

 

Following the imposition of outrageous N212, 000.00 and N57, 000 levies on chairmanship and councillorship candidates, respectively by the Abia State “Independent” Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), and also the resolve of the ABSIEC to conduct local government elections in the state on Saturday, May 19, 2007, without voters register, the NCP headed to a constitutional court on May 14, 2007 to obtain an for interim injunction restraining it from conducting the polls, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons filed in its suit no. FHC/UM/CS/44/2007.

 

The NCP wonders why the ABSIEC would impose outrageous levies on candidates, despite that the minimum wage of workers is N6500 per month. It  is a wicked design to exclude the suffering masses from seeking elective offices at the local government level by the Governor Kalu-controlled commercially over ambitious ABSIEC.

 

The plaintiffs are Comrade Chidi Nwosu, Abia State Chairman, National Conscience Party (NCP), a human rights activists; and National Conscience Party (NCP), a registered political party; while the defendants are Ambassador (Prof.) S. O. Emejuaiwe, Chairman, Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC)+; Abia State Electoral Commission (ABSIEC); and the Attorney-General, Abia State.

 

In the afore mentioned suit, the NCP is challenging inter alia the legality of the imposition of outrageous levies by the ABSIEC on candidates as a prerequisite for contesting local government elections in the state.

 

Pursuant to Order 9, Rules 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Federal High Court Rules, 2000 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Abia State Judicial Division, holden at Umuahia, the motion exparte has been slated for hearing on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.

 

It is the prayer of the NCP that the enemies of the open society in Abia State led by Governor Kalu will be defeated and boxed into an obscure corner for the abolition of poverty.