Nigeria (Blank NEWS Online) By Enalo James–
Christopher Erhodyne Anirah, flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the House Representatives (Sapele, Okpe, Uwvie Federal Constituency) who was alleged to have died ahead of the 2015 general elections in Delta State, has raised alarm over threat to his life.
Anirah, who said his death certificate was forged and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the party’s primary election and 2015 general elections, urged the IGP to immediately effect arrest of the plotters.
In a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police; titled ‘Imminent Threat of Assassination’, Anirah named the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Delta state APC Governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Chief Otega Emerhor, Delta State APC Chairman, Mr. Igho .K. Okrikpo and Hon. Gibson Akporehe, among others as conspirators in the grand plot.
According to Hon Anirah , his trouble started in December 2014 after he was duly elected at the APC primary election as the candidate to contest the 2015 general election for House of Representatives election for Sapele, Okpe and UvwieFederal Constituency.
Few days to the election, Anirah discovered to his chagrin that his name has been substituted with one Gibson Akporehe whom he alleged decamped to APC from PDP, adding that while the drama of his illegal substitution unfolded, he was shocked that documentary evidence existed at the INEC headquarter proving that he was dead.
The petitioner further revealed that following his request for the documents, he (Anirah) was issued certified true copy of a forged death certificate which was allegedly used to substantiate the claim that he was dead and substituted with Hon. Gibson Akporehe for the election, and subsequent denial of his electoral mandate.
In a bid to prove that he was alive, Hon. Anirah said he visited the INEC offices in Delta and Abuja to present himself as evidential proof that he was not dead, adding that despite his petition to the former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega and the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, no appropriate action was taken.
Anirah said since the struggle to actualize is mandate started, he has been receiving anonymous, threatening phone calls and text messages from persons suspected to be cronies of the people behind his ordeal to drop his political ambition or risk being killed.
Anirah therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct all relevant authorities, especially the Inspector General of Police to prosecute the offenders.
Meanwhile, Hon. Anirah has gone to court to enforce his right and to challenge the illegal substitution carried out by APC during the 2015 general election in Delta State.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court Asaba, with suit FHC/ASB/CS/47/15, the plaintiff is asking among other reliefs, the court should reinstate him as the candidate for the 2015 General Election in Delta State.
Also, the deputy chairman of APC in Delta State Mr. Okonji Chidi has approached the High Court in Asaba Delta State in a suit A/M/19/2015 seeking to restrict the Inspector General of Police amongst other Police authorities from arresting him.
But in a judgment delivered on the 11th of May 2015, the court dismissed the plea on the ground that his prayers lacked merit, adding that the Police cannot be barred from investigating a complaint of a citizen.
The defendants in the suits are ; APC, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, Delta State APC chairman, Prophet Jones Erhue, Delta State APC Deputy Chairman, Mr. Cyril Ogodo, Delta State APC gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Oteha Emerhor, INEC and four others.
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