I’m Enugu East senatorial candidate, Nnamani insists

The Senator representing Enugu-East in the Senate, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, has said he is still the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for his senatorial district as far as the forthcoming general election is concerned.

Nnamani urged his constituents to come out en masse to vote for him in Saturday's senatorial election.

The former governor added that he made the Independent National Electoral Commission's final list of senatorial candidates cleared for Saturday's elections.

His plea to his constituents is coming four days before the presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023.

He said, “In Enugu East Senatorial Zone, there is no vacancy. Ignore any insinuation to the contrary because I'm mentally and psychologically prepared for Saturday's election.”

The federal lawmaker assured his constituents of continued effective and quality representation in the Senate, saying that Enugu East would get her fair share of dividends of democracy.

He added, “I will be fair and just to all, whatever your interest and concerns will always be my mission and purpose in the Senate.”

On February 10, the PDP expelled Nnamani alongside some other key party members for anti-party activities. The senator in response took the party to court over the disciplinary actions taken against him for alleged anti-party activities.

Nnamani had before then openly declared his support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola  Tinubu, which had led to his initial suspension from the PDP.

The former governor said his support for the APC candidate was because he could not support a northerner to become President after the eight-year tenure of the current President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Nnamani's candidacy has since his expulsion been under contention as Section 65(2b) provides that a person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this section if (b) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that party.

Section 221 of the Constitution also states that, “No association, other than a political party, shall canvas for votes for any candidate at any election.”

However, the Electoral Act, 2022 (Amended) Section 33 states that “a political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under Section 29 of this Act except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.”

Nnamani, therefore, affirmed that his candidature for the election was neither threatened nor shaken.

He urged his people to be law-abiding just as he canvassed peaceful conduct of the elections.