7th June, 2022
The Federal High Court has nullified the rescheduled People Democratic Party’s primaries in Ebonyi and declared Dr. Ifeanyi-Chukwuma Odii as the authentic governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 polls.
The party rescheduled and conducted fresh primaries on June 4 and 5 after its initial primaries in Ebonyi on May 28 and 29 that elected Odii a governorship candidate.
The Court ruled that the primary elections that produced Sen. Obinna Ogba and other candidates were illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Fatun Riman said the repeated primaries in the state on June 4 and 5 were not monitored by the Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Riman, the rescheduled PDP primaries in Ebonyi is null and void.
“One, the rescheduled primaries were conducted when the suit filed on May 30 was already pending in the court.
“The primaries were not monitored by INEC, therefore, the rescheduled exercise of June 4 and 5, that elected Senator Obinna Ogba as another gubernatorial candidate and others are hereby nullified,” Judge stated.
Mr. Mudi Erhenede, Counsel for Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks thanked the court for the judgment.
According to Erhenede, the ruling has interpreted the constitution of the party.
“Selfish individual or group interests will by no means supersede the party’s interest. Good thing is that Justice has been done over the matter.
Efforts to reach the Counsel of Sen Ogba were abortive as they left the court earlier before the judgment.