Valentine Ayika, member representing Anaocha/ Dunukofia/njikoka Federal Constituency in Anambra State, has told the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka that there was no ambiguity over his being candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Februay 23 elections.
Ayika made the submission in his defence at the closing of the petition against him in Awka.
Dozie Nwankwo, candidateof the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is challenging the victory of Ayika on the grounds that PDP did not sponsor him and that INEC did not publish his name as PDP candidate.
Nwankwo in petition marked EPT/AN/HR/07/2019 with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP as co-defendants said INEC declared PDP winner and not the candidate.
Ayika, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, said he bought expression of interest form, nomination form, contested the PDP primary election and scored 252 votes to emerge flag bearer.
He said his party submitted his name alongside all other candidates who won primary election Anambra on October 18 and started his campaigns when INEC lifted ban in it sometime in November 2018.
Ayika tendered documents including PDP membership card, result of PDP primary election, letter of PDP instructing INEC to recognise him as its candidate, report of PDP primary election panel among others.
The Rep member told the tribunal that though there was petition against his nomination by Richard Egenti, a PDP aspirant but that Supreme Court had ruled on February 11 that the petitioner was not the candidate PDP.
It would be recalled Egenti had sued PDP and INEC claiming that he won the primary.
Ayika tendered a letter from the national headquarters of PDP urging INEC to continue to recognise him as its candidate for Anaocha/dunukofia/ Njikoka Federal Constituency as earlier submitted to the commission in the election in question.
Ayika said upon noticing that his name was not included in the list of candidates, he went to INEC head of Legal Department who told him that he should sort out issue with his party.
He further said he met the PDP National Organising Secretary who said directed that a letter should be written to INEC asking the commission to continue recognise him as the candidate.
