- Orders INEC to publish his name
- Awards N10m damages against Ugochukwu Uba
By Emma Ogbuehi
The aspiration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 6, Anambra State governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo, brightened on Friday, as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, declared him the authentic candidate of the party.
In its ruling, the Appeal Court recognised the gubernatorial primary election conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on June 26, 2021 at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, which produced Ozigbo as candidate.
The panel led by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President Court of Appeal, also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately publish Ozigbo’s name on its website as the candidate of the PDP.
The Court, which took a swipe at Ozigbo’s challenger, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, and accused his lawyers of forum shopping, awarded a cost of N10 million against him for being a meddlesome interloper.
Uba had on July 5, instituted a suit against the PDP, Ozigbo and INEC, challenging Ozigbo’s victory at the primary election.
Alex Ejesieme, SAN, the lead Counsel to Ozigbo, had filed an appeal against the judgement of Justice O. A. Nwabunike of the Awka High Court, which gave Uba victory at the primaries.
Barely 24 hours after Senator Uba instituted the suit, Justice Nwabunike granted an ex-parte injunction restraining INEC from carrying out its constitutional duty and also abridged the timeframe within which the defendants were legally obliged to file their defence from 42 days to only three days in violation of Order 16 Rule 1(2) of the Anambra State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
In an unprecedented move, the PDP slammed Nwabunike, labelling his ruling “a black-market judgement which cannot stand in appeal.”
“Our party cautions Justice Nwabunike not to continue to test the will of the generality of the people of Anambra, whose mandate, being expressed in our candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, is being undermined, as such may trigger serious crisis in the state,” the PDP warned when it called on the National Judicial Commission and Nigerians to intervene in the matter.
The Appeal Court judgement paves the way for the PDP to launch its promised “robust campaign” for the governorship of the Anambra State.
