Court of Appeal Affirms Soludo As APGA Candidate in Anambra
The Court of Appeal sitting in Awka on Monday dismissed the motion brought before it by Chike Onyemenam (SAN), counsel to Chief Jude Okeke fractional chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Okeke had approached the Court to stop the execution of the order made by Justice Charles C. Okaa of the Anambra State High Court in Awka on July 18 that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise and enlist Prof Charles Soludo, as candidate of APGA.
Soludo had emerged with an overwhelming majority votes in the primary election organised by the Dr Victor Oye leadership of APGA at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka on June 23.
The primary election was monitored by INEC and was broadcast live.
On the other hand, Okeke who purportedly declared himself chairman of the party on June 15 organised a primary election in an unknown location where Rep. Chukwuma Umeoji emerged as the winner.
Okeke then proceeded a Jigawa High Court in Birnin Kudu to obtain an order that INEC should declare Umeoji candidate of APGA for Nov. 16 governorship election in Anambra.
The order according to the defendants was not made known until the eve of the INEC’s unveiling of names of various candidates.
INEC obeyed the order by publishing Umeoji as APGA candidate on July 16.
The Appeal Court Judge who awarded heavy penalties on applicants frowned on their nationwide order shopping spree which disregarded jurisdictional limits.
The Judge said the actions smarked of professional misconduct and demanded punishment for the Judges and lawyers involved.
