Anambra: Appeal Court Declares Valentine Ozigbo Authentic PDP Candidate

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed Valentine Ozigbo as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra Governorship election.

Naija News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed November 6, 2021, for the election.

The affirmation was made on Friday by a three-man panel of justices led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Honorable Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem.

This was following an appeal filed by Ozigbo challenging the ruling of the Akwa High Court.

According to the Appeal court,  Ozigbo’s suit challenging the judgement of the Awka High Court, which barred him from parading himself as the PDP candidate in the coming election, had merit and was, therefore, allowed.

The appellate court also set aside the decision of the lower court, declaring it null and void, while awarding the sum of N10 million naira in favor of Ozigbo.

Recall that Justice Obiora Nwabunike of the Awka High Court had barred Ozigbo from parading himself as the PDP candidate.

Ruling on suit No. A/230/2021, the judge also prohibited the PDP from presenting Ozigbo as its candidate.

The court also restrained INEC from accepting Ozigbo as candidate of the PDP until the final determination of the suit brought by Senator Uba to nullify the parallel congress held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka at which Ozigbo emerged winner with 62 votes

Uba claimed that the congress at which Ozigbo emerged was convened in disobedience to the judgment of an Abuja High Court, in violation of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, sections 25 and 50 of the PDP Constitution and directive of INEC dated 22nd June 2021 which mandated PDP to comply with the Abuja High Court order issued by the Honourable Justice A.O. Adeniyi.

Uba further claimed that the primary election conducted in the Anambra State congress held at Saint Paul University, Awka at which he (Uba) emerged winner and PDP governorship candidate with 275 votes was the proper party primary election in full obedience to the judgment of an Abuja High Court, compliance with Section 87 of the Electoral Act, sections 25 and 50 of the PDP Constitution.