A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday slated November 30 for judgment in a suit challenging the qualification of Anambra State governor-elect, Charles Soludo and Deputy governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim, for the November 6 Anambra gubernatorial election.
The date was picked by Justice Taiwo Taiwo after the lawyers to the case made their final submissions.
The plaintiffs, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka, are claiming that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission and should be deemed unqualified to stand for election.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, the plaintiffs said Soludo indicated in the affidavit, that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.
The defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo and Ibezim.
In their final submission, plaintiffs’ lawyers, A. O. Ijeri and Kelvin Okoko, argued that having indicated the wrong seat he was contesting, Soludo supplied INEC with false information, violated extant legal provisions and ought to be disqualified.
As against the contention by lawyers to the second to fourth defendants, Ijeri agued that his clients have established that there was a cause of action and that the court has jurisdiction to determine the case.
Lawyer for APGA and Soludo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), argued that the suit was without merit and that the court lacked jurisdiction.
Ikpeazu contended that error in an affidavit cannot be a basis to disqualify a candidate from election, noting that the false information contemplated in Section 31 of the Electoral Act was criminal in nature.
Lawyer to Ibezim, C. Mbaeri, argued in similar vein and prayed the court to uphold his objection and dismiss the suit.