A panel of Nigeria’s Supreme Court of
Nigeria sitting in Abuja, on Friday, has ordered replacement for the sacked Senators
and members of the House of Representatives from Anambra State.
The decision, which swept away a host
of lawmakers from Anambra State, including the Senator representing Anambra
North Senatorial District, Stella Oduah and her counterpart representing
Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Ubah, affected members of the House of
Representatives elected on the ticket of the PDP.
A faction of PDP in the state led by
Ejike Oguebego had sued on behalf of themselves and others including Chief
Chris Uba, who is the Anambra South Senatorial Zone candidate for the apex
court to determine who were the legal and validly nominated candidates of the
party to stand for the last general elections for the party in the state.
Oguebego had in his Motion on Notice
pursuant to Sec 17 of the Court of App Act 2004 and Order 4 Rule 6 of Court of
Appeal Rules 2011 seeking an order for stay of execution of the Court of Appeal
verdict of Feb 6,2015 in suit ref CA/A/737/201 PDP vs Oguebego and 3 others,
pending final determination of appeal brought by Oguebego and Okoye at the
Supreme Court.
Oguebego and others also were seeking
an order of injunction restraining the PDP and the Independent National
Electoral Commission or any of their agents whatsoever from implementing the
Court of Appeal verdict of Feb 6, 2015, pending the determination of the appeal
before the Supreme Court, and or any other order the court may deem necessary.
The applicants also sought an order
for accelerated hearing of the appeal in order not to render the outcome a mere
academic exercise.
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| Andy Uba |
Oguebego exco loyal to the leadership
of Chief Chris Uba had in concert with party and INEC, organized primaries
where Chris Uba, Annie Okonkwo and John Emeka emerged the Anambra South,
Central and North respectively.
Meanwhile, Charles Odedo (Idemili),
Emma Nweke (Awka), Julius Ofoma (Nnewi), Tony Offiah (Aguata) amongst others
emerged candidates for the House of Representatives.
Besides Andy Uba and Stella Oduah,
others who are to vacate their seats, include Anayo Nnebe (Awka), Obinna
Chidoka (Idemili), Eucharia Azodo (Aguata), Lynda Ikpeazu (Onitsha), Emeka
Anohu (Ihiala) amongst four others.
The Supreme Court verdict today swept
out a whole line of political co-travellers akin to what was first witnessed in
Katsina State few years ago where a whole line-up of ‘elected’ officials were
swept aside vide a court verdict.
Chris Uba, younger brother to Andy
Uba, and Prince Emeka are expected to take over seats vacated by Andy Uba and
Stella Oduah respectively.
Former Senator Annie Okonkwo is in
line to represent the PDP in a forthcoming election to fill a senatorial seat
held by Uche Ekwunife who was sacked last December by the Court of Appeal.
Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court
upheld an earlier decision by Justice Chukwu of the Federal High Court laying
out the proper procedures for selection of the PDP’s legislative candidates.
In December 2014, the Federal High
Court had ruled that it was only the constitutionally recognized state party
leadership that could organize the party primaries.
The Supreme Court’s ruling today,
reaffirmed the High Court’s verdict, declaring that the Ejike Oguebego-led PDP
executive had the sole right to hold the primaries in Anambra State.
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