A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked a House of Representatives member, Chris Azubogu as the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Anambra South Senatorial District in the 2023 election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo while delivering judgment in the suit instituted by Ben Nwankwo, held that the lawmaker violated Section 65 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, in the way and manner he stood for the primary election under the APGA platform and got nominated for the Anambra South Senatorial election
The federal lawmaker was kicked out of the senatorial race on grounds that he was a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, when in June this year he stood for the primary election under APGA for Anambra South Senatorial District.
As a serving member of the House of Representatives, representing Nnewi North/ Nnewi South/ Ekwusigo Federal Constituency under the PDP ticket, Justice Ekwo held that Azubogu ought to have relinquished the seat if he had actually resigned his membership and defected from PDP to APGA or another political party.
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The court held that without complying with mandatory provisions of Sections 65 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 27 of the APGA guidelines for the primary election for 2022, there was no way the federal lawmaker can lawfully participate in any primary election other than that of the PDP.
The court ordered that Ben Nwankwo’s name be submitted to the electoral body as the candidate of APGA for the election.
The court issued a restraining order prohibiting the House of Representatives member from parading himself as APGA candidate in the 2023 election and INEC from according him recognition as the party’s candidate.
Editor Oloyede Oworu
