Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Labour Party candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, has faulted a high court judgment disqualifying him from contesting in the 2023 general election.
A Federal High Court ruling in Awka presided over by Justice H. A. Ngajiwa disqualified the nomination of Umeh as Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central in a suit reportedly filled by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Lilian Uche Ekwunife.
In a statement he personally signed, Umeh expressed total dissatisfaction with the judgment, noting that Uche Ekwunife and the PDP do not have constitutional power to challenge his nomination in the Labour Party.
“Yesterday in the evening, news of my disqualification from the Anambra Central Senatorial District Election on the Orders of the Federal High Court, Awka presided over by Justice H. A. Ngajiwa on a Suit filled by the PDP and Senator Lilian Uche Ekwunife, challenging my Nomination as Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central dominated the Social Media.
“Following numerous phone calls and inquiries, I elected to issue this statement to reduce the palpable anxiety gripping a broad spectrum of Anambra Central People and many Nigerians.
“I have read this morning, the Judgment delivered yesterday by Justice Ngajiwa and I have discussed same with our Team of Lawyers which included two Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“Without going deep into the details of the Judgment, I wish to let the general public know that I am completely dissatisfied with the Judgment and hereby reject same.
“Sen Uche Ekwunife and the PDP clearly do not have locus standi to challenge my nomination in the Labour Party in accordance with the extant laws and therefore, the judgment was delivered without jurisdiction.
“It is curious that the same Judge who had earlier dismissed the suit filed by Sen Ifeanyi Ubah and the YPP challenging the nomination of Hon Chris Azubogu as the candidate of APGA for Anambra South Senatorial District for lack of locus standi, describing them as meddlesome interlopers, made a somersault in the present Judgment.”
He, however, cleared that his lawyers and those of the Labour Party have been instructed to file appeals against the Judgment.
