BY: RALPH EJIMKONYE
Justice Iyang Ekwo of Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ommit the name of Uche Nwosu as a governorship candidate in the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
Mr.Nwosu’s candidacy was voided on the grounds of double nomination by two political parties, the All Progressive Congress, APC and the Action Alliance, AA which it stated is in violation of section 37 of the Electoral Act.
Uche Nwosu is challenging the declaration of Hon.Emeka Ihedioha by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
The Presiding Judge upheld the prayer of the plaintiffs, the Action Peoples Party, to the effect that Nwosu’s governorship candidature was null and void on the basis of multiplicity of nominations as governorship candidate of the APC and AA.
Justice Ekwo said Nwosu’s nomination as a governorship candidate of AA “is invalid, null and void, having been made at the pendency of similar nomination of the 2nd defendant (Nwosu) by the All Progressive Congress for the same location.
He similary declared that Nwosu “has not been validly nominated by the 3rd defendant (AA) as it’s governorship candidate for the Imo State Governorship election having been made at the pendency of the Order of Justice Valentine Ashi of the Abuja High Court recognising the 2nd defendant as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the Imo State 2019 governorship election.
Nwosu Reacts
Reacting to the judgement, Nwosu through a statement signed by his campaign Organization Director of Publicity, FCC Onwusoanya Jones, said there is no basis for “any further attempt to disturb and possibly discredit the judiciary with such frivolous petitions, as the Supreme Court, being the highest court in the land, had already rested every matter concerning the candidacy of His Excellency Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, and affirmed him duly nominated.
According to him,”Uche Nwosu, even though, he sought to, was never at any time, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as his name was never forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, nor published by the Electoral Commission as a candidate of the APC.
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