Supreme Court Sacks Andy Uba, Stella Oduah, 9 PDP Reps…Chris Uba, John Emeka And Annie Okonkwo Take Over

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment today sacked Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah from the upper legislative chambers along with nine other members of the House of Representatives from Anambra State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

Uba was a former Special Assistant to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Domestic Affairs, while Stella Oduah was a former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah. Other affected lawmakers include Anayo Nnebe, Obinna Chidoka, Lynda Ikpeazu, Emeka Anohu, Eucharia Azodo, Chris Azubogu and three others.

This followed the decision of the apex court to reaffirm the Chief Ejike Oguebego led executive of the PDP in the state as the authentic one to be accorded recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC].

Going by the judgment, the list of nominated party candidates in the last election from the Oguebego-led executive was the only one to be recognized by INEC.

Consequently, Chris Uba, John Emeka and Annie Okonkwo are the duly nominated senatorial candidates for Anambra South, Central and North in the March 28, 2015 general election.

The appellants had approached the Supreme Court to determine who were the legal and validly nominated candidates of the party to stand for the April 2015 general elections for the party in the state.

Oguebego had in his Motion on Notice pursuant to Sec 17 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 and Order 4 Rule 6 of Court of Appeal Rules 2011 sought 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.

They further prayed for 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.

They also applied for an order for accelerated hearing of the appeal on order not to render the outcome a mere academic exercise. The Federal High Court had ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to dabble into the issue of which of the two factions was the authentic state executive committee of the party to field candidates for the election.

After the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, the Oguebego faction headed to the apex court to determine whether in the light of the PDP constitution, the Ken Emeakayi faction was qualified to hold primary election to select candidates for the 2015 election.

The matter gained national attention after the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division on December 7, 2015 sacked the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, Senator Uche Ekwunife, on the grounds that she did not emerge from the Oguebego faction.

Ruling on the appeal filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Victor Umeh, against the judgment of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, the Appeal Court declared that “the 11th respondent, who had denied taking part in the Ejike Oguebego-led factional State Executive of PDP, could therefore not have been properly nominated, since that was the faction that had the primaries monitored by INEC.”

Consequently, the court declared that “the 11th respondent (Ekwunife) was therefore not the product of a valid primary and was therefore not duly and legitimately nominated. That has disqualified her from contesting the election into the Anambra Central Senatorial district.”

The court ordered the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a rerun election for the senatorial district within 90 days, pointing out that having decided on the qualification of Ekwunife, it did not have to look into the other aspects of the disputed election. Below is a breakdown of winners and losers based on the supreme court judgment today:

Losers: Senate

Senator Andy Uba   –            Anmabra South Senatorial District

Senator Prince Stella Odua – Anambra North

Senator Uche Ekwunife       – Anambra Central

 

Winners: Senate

Chief Chris Uba       –     Anmabra South Senatorial District

Chief John Emeka     –     Anambra North

Senator Annie Okonkwo – To contest in the re-run election for Anambra Central

Losers: House of Representatives.

Hon. Obinna Chidoka – Idemili North and South

Hon. Eucharia Azodo   – Aguata

Hon. Sopulu Ezeonwuka – Orumba North and South

Hon. Chris Azubogu       – Nnewi North and South

Hon. Chuchu Onyema     – Ogbaru

Hon. Linda Ikpeazu         – Onitsha North and South

Hon. Tony Nwoye           – Anambra East and West

Hon. Anayo Nebe           – Awka North and South

Winners: House of Representatives

Hon. Charles Odedo   – Idemili North and South

Chief Tony Ofia           – Aguata

Mrs. Uche Obi             – Orumba North and South

Julius Ofomah             – Nnewi North and South

Benny Obaze               – Ogbaru

Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonwu – Onitsha North and South

Dr. Ejike Nwene         – Anambra East and West

Chief Emma Nweke    – Awka North and South

Hon. Emeka Anohu     – Ihiala