BREAKING - Supreme Court upholds Appeal Court's judgment on Anambra Central, Dismisses Ekwunife's appeal

 

It surely ended in praise for the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District as the Supreme Court of Nigeria Abuja this afternoon nullified the appeal filed by the erstwhile Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Anaocha, Dunukofia and Njikoka Federal Constituency and PDP's candidate in the nullified Anambra Central Senatorial election, Hon Mrs Uche Ekwunife challenging the December 7th (2015) decision of the Appellate Court which ended her stay in the National Assembly and called for a fresh election within 90 days (5th March 2016).



In the five man panel headed by Justice Tanko Muhammad, the lead judgment as delivered by Justice Amina Aungie described the appeal as "insubstantive" and incongruent with the provisions of the law. It stressed that "issues emanating from national assembly elections are settled at the Appeal Court and whatever decision reached thereof stands and must be adhered strictly" thus, relating the situation where the Appellate Court nullified the Anambra Central senatorial election of 28th March 2015 and ordered a fresh election within 90 days (excluding the PDP and its candidate), the Anambra Central Senatorial Rerun Election aught to have taken place and concluded.

Justice Amina Aungie disclosed that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain such appeals pointing out that "whoever feels discordant with the law should apply to the National Assembly for a review of the constitution rather than daring to manipulate or deceive the court into inconsistencies and contradiction of itself. Contributing, Justice Tanko Muhammad affirmed the judgment and further reiterated the readiness of the judges in protecting the integrity of the judiciary against such disparities.

The judges apologised to the people of Anambra Central for the delay in delivering the judgment noting that the abated appeal was sustained with the hope that the appellant would withdraw voluntarily but it is however unfortunate that the appellant remained insensitive to the rule of law and the dispositions of the court.

Nevertheless, the judges successfully discontinued an attempt by a counsel fused by the opposition in furtherance of obfuscating and delaying the judgment and the possible end of the palaeolithic and obnoxious issues in Anambra Central.

The first respondent, Chief Dr Victor Umeh OFR, Ohamadike Ndigbo stormed the court in the solidarity of highly reputable personalities across the country, including the Chief of Staff to the Anambra State Government, Prof Joe Anosike, the heir to the great Ezeigbo Gburu-Gburu, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Jnr., the APGA gubernatorial candidate for Zamfara state and the party's former national secretary, Alhaji Wambai Sani Shinkafi; Chief Mike Umeh (Ọnwa Aguluzigbo) amongst notable Aguluzigbo indigenes, fans and supporters across the nation.

THE PEOPLE OF ANAMBRA CENTRAL, ANAMBRA STATE AND OF COURSE, APGA ARE IMMEASURABLY GRATEFUL TO THE JUDGES FOR THEIR COURAGE AND DEXTERITY IN SUSTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE JUDICIARY AND  THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE.

The people therefore calls on the INEC to without further delay, schedule a date for the outstanding election in line with the Supreme Court judgment which has affirmed that the Appeal Court's judgment is final and disallows any further altercation.