Nullification of Uba in Anambra, warning to Osun 2022

Sir: Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified Senator Andy Uba’s participation in the governorship election held in Anambra State on November 6 this year. The nullification of Uba’s participation should be a lesson to guide Osun 2022 governorship election.

In a judgment, the Judge held that Uba was never a candidate in the election having emerged from an illegally conducted primary election by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Ekwo added that the plaintiff, George Moghalu succeeded in proving that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election from which Uba claimed to have emerged as the party’s candidate.

The judge further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete Uba from its record as a candidate in the election and ordered the APC to refund to Moghalu, the sum of N22.5 million, which is the amount he paid for expression of interest and nomination forms since the party failed to conduct a valid primary.

APC should avoid what happened in Anambra in Osun 2022 election by doing the needful. The 2,517 aggrieved members of Osun APC have gone to court. They are card-carrying members of Osun APC. By challenging the ward congress of the party, held on July 31, 2021 in the state. they are pursuing their rights. This portends grave implication for Governor Oyetola.

The APC members seek: “A declaration that the ward congress of the 1st defendants, Osun State Chapter, allegedly conducted by the Ward Congress Committee headed by Gbenga Elegbeleye on the 31st day of July, 2021, was illegal, null and void and ultra vires; the powers of the first-fifth defendants for contravening the guidelines for ward congresses, 2021 and the constitution of the first defendant’s party.

Inwalomhe Donald.