Soludo survives another legal hurdle thrown on his way by Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuk who wanted him disqualified
Anambra Governor-elect, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has survived another legal hurdle thrown on his way by Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuk, both claiming that he and his deputy provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and thus should be deemed unqualified to stand for election.
But the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case for lack of merit,
The judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, then dismissed the case and awarded N2m costs against the litigants.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, the applicants contended that Soludo indicated, in the affidavit, that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.
Defendants in the suit are INEC, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo and Ibezim.
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In their final submission, the plaintiffs’ lawyers, A. O. Ijeri and Kelvin Okoko argued that having indicated the wrong seat he was contesting, Soludo supplied INEC with false information, violated extant legal provisions and ought to be disqualified.
As against the contention by lawyers to the second to fourth defendants, Ijeri argued that his clients have established that there was a cause of action and that the court has jurisdiction to determine the case.
Counsel to APGA and Soludo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the suit was without merit, adding that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.
He argued that an error in an affidavit cannot be a basis to disqualify a candidate from the election, noting that the false information contemplated in Section 31 of the Electoral Act was criminal in nature. The judge ruled in favour of Soludo