The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the party’s candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, will still contest the election scheduled for March 5.
The party said this in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja by Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, APC’s National Secretary.
According to the statement, the clarification is sequel to some media reports that the APC senatorial candidate had been excluded from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement said the party was not in receipt of any communication from INEC in respect of the purported exclusion of the APC’s candidate.
It said: “Dr Chris Ngige who contested the election in March 2015 on the platform of the APC is now a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has withdrawn from the fresh election ordered by the court of appeal.
“To avoid a vacuum, the party after due process presented the candidature of Barrister Sharon Ikeazor as replacement for the original candidate who withdrew from the race.
“By law, a political party has the right to nominate and sponsor candidates in all elections in Nigeria. It is immaterial whether it is a general election, bye–election, new election, fresh election or election of any nomenclature.
“The right of a political party to substitute a candidate who dies or withdraws his/her candidacy is contained in Sections 33 and 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
“The APC is confident that INEC, as a law-abiding body, will be guided by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and continue its efforts to deliver peaceful, free, fair and credible elections,’’ the statement read in part.