Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State is still the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 18 governorship election in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the party’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Ifeanyi Mbaeri. This follows recent online publications stating that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had restrained Obiano from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the party.

Mbaeri stated that there is no such order or ruling by any court in Abuja or anywhere in Nigeria. He admitted, however, that the factional Chairman of the party, Chief Martin Agbaso had “approached the Federal High Court, Abuja through an originating summons seeking some reliefs. The reliefs include; an exparte’ application for interim injunction restraining His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano as the authentic candidate of APGA; to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him as APGA flag-bearer, and order for substituted service of the court processes.

“However, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice J.T. Tsoho, declined the applicants’ request for an interim order of injunction restraining both INEC and Chief Obiano. The Honourable judge merely agreed that Chief Willie Obiano can be served the court processes by substituted means hence the publication in Sun Newspapers of today 30/10/2017 and an order for accelerated hearing of the suit. The court’s ruling was merely procedural and is to ensure that parties to the matter are duly informed.

“As a law abiding political party whose gubernatorial candidate emerged through the most transparent process observed and certified by the electoral umpire, APGA is confident that no amount of blackmail or false rumour can stop its march to victory in the November polls.”

Mbaeri urged the people of Anambra State and all APGA faithful to disregard what he called “the antics of the desperate opposition who have resorted to distorting the facts using pliable internet habitués to peddle misleading news.”

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