JUST IN: Anambra: Court dismisses suit seeking Soludo, Ibezim’s disqualification

 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit that sought to disqualify the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last governorship election in Anambra State – Charles Soludo and Onyeka Ibezim.

The plaintiffs – Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka – are contending that Soludo and Ibezim provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) that they submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and should be declared as unqualified to stand for election.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021 the plaintiffs claimed that Soludo indicated, in his Form EC9, Aguata 2, Anambra Constituency as the position he was contesting when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.

Ibezim was said to have indicated Awka 2, Anambra Constituency, as against the deputy governorship seat he was contesting.

In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that the suit was frivolous as the plaintiffs failed to show how they were misled by the information supplied by Soludo and Ibezim.

Justice Taiwo noted that Soludo and Ibezim clearly ticked the positions of governor and deputy governor in the forms they submitted to INEC and only indicated their constituencies, which did not amount to supplying false information as envisaged under the Electoral Act.

The judge said it was known to all, including the plaintiffs, that only governorship election was held in Anambra on November 6 this years.

He resolved all the issues raised for determination against the plaintiffs and declined all the reliefs sought by them.

The judge awarded N2million cost against the plaintiffs, and in favour of APGA, Soludo and Ibezim.

Defendants in the suit were INEC, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo and Ibezim.