The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the name of Uche Nwosu as a governorship candidate in the March 9 election held in Imo State.
Nwosu is the son-in-law of former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
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Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled on Monday that Nwosu’s candidacy be voided on the grounds that he was nominated by two political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Action Alliance (AA) – in violation of section 37 of the Electoral Act.
The Action People’s Party and its Deputy National Chairman, Uche Nnadi, had filed the suit at the court.
Nwosu is, however, still challenging the results of the election which saw Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerge winner at the state’s Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Justice Ekwo ruled that Nwosu affirmed to be the APC’s governorship candidate in his statement on oath sworn before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge similarly declared that Nwosu “has not been validly nominated by the 3rd defendant (AA) as its governorship candidate for the Imo State governorship election having been made at the pendency of the order of Justice Valentine Ashi of the Abuja High Court recognising the 2nd defendant as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Imo State 2019 governorship election.”
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The judge also dismissed Nwosu’s preliminary objection, picking holes in the defence he and the AA separately filed against the substantive suit.
Justice Ekwo, dismissing the preliminary objection, ruled that the provisions of section 285(9) of the Constitution which stipulates that a pre-election case must be filed within 14 days of the occurrence of the event being complained of, was not applicable to the case.
