Abuja — Speculations as to which political party erstwhile aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Andy Uba, shall contest the 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State were brought to an end yesterday as the Labour Party has confirmed that he will be contesting under its platform.

This is just as the party yesterday announced that it shall be holding its planned National Convention on Saturday, December 12, 2009, the third in the series at the Labour House auditorium. Elected leaders would run the affairs of the party for the next four years.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, national chairman of the party, Barr. Dan Nwanyanwu, said the nomination of Uba by the National Executive Committee of the party followed the substitution of its erstwhile candidate, Engr. Mike Aare, whom the party accused of anti-party activities as the party has it on good authority that he was holding forth the LP's ticket for one of the candidates in the election.

Uba had lost a long legal battle he waged in order to regain his mandate as "governor in waiting" following the cancellation of his election as governor of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday in Awka made public the list of nominated candidates for the 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, confirming the candidacy of Chief Andy Uba for Labour Party, Nicholas Ukachukwu for Hope Democratic Party, Dr Chris Ngige for Action Congress, Governor Peter Obi and Uche Ekwunife for All Progressives Grand Alliance and Peoples Progressive Alliance.

Other candidates included Uchie Mike Ejezie of All Nigerian Peoples Party, Arch. Mike Nwafor of African Liberation Party, and Ralpa Okey Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress.

The commission, however, did not fill any nominated candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, explaining that the candidacy of the party is subject of litigations in the courts.

Speaking at a stakeholders interactive session with candidates and political parties for the election, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, announced the transfer of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, Chief Roland Uwa, who would be replaced by Barrister Josiah Uwazuruonye, who until now was the REC for River State .

Included in the shake-up were all electoral officers in the state, noting that it was a routine exercise by the commission to make reshufflement at the beginning of any electoral calendar.

Iwu noted that the transfer was not based on non-performance or punitive measure, adding that before the 2011 general election a similar exercise would be carried out in other states of the federation.

In his speech, the chairman announced that there would be no use of adhoc INEC staff, explaining that members of the National Youth Service Corps would be used for the exercise.

He warned that the old practice of long vehicle convoys of politicians with police escort would not be allowed, adding that candidates like Dr Chris Ngige and Governor Peter Obi would be provided with some security formations, to escort them from their houses to their voting units and back.

Iwu further announced the setting up of an Election Monitoring Observaion Board (EMOB), headed by the first National Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Iheazo Ikwuma, which would work with representatives of the candidates.

While giving the board terms of reference, Iwu said that its members are to monitor the exercise and make observations on areas that have problems and also make recommendations, adding that the role of protecting the interests of their candidates and also act as a guide where necessary.

In his reaction during the interactive session, former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, urged the commission to ensure that there is adequate fund for the effective conduct of the exercise, noting that requisitions should be made in the month of December for more funds in view of the problems encountered at the beginning of every fiscal year.

Also speaking, Governor Peter Obi appealed to his fellow candidates not to see the race as a do-or-die affair, adding that with the assurance of the commission, the 2010 polls would be hitch-free.

Earlier in his address, Chief Rowland Uwa lamented, "The problem of electoral violence and other electoral offences still constitute a serious challenge and danger to our electoral process. It is our hope that this forum will seriously address these issues.

"Political actors and candidates must at the end of this forum commit themselves to good conduct during campaigns, electioneering and on the election day. Party leaders should be reminded of the political parties' code of conduct, which they drafted in 2007 and promised to uphold. This code of conduct, is very relevant in this election as it was in 2007."