- Dismisses suit seeking his disqualification
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Anambra Governor-elect, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday successfully scaled the first hurdle on his victory path as an Abuja High Court dismissed a suit seeking his disqualification as the authentic All Grand Progressive Alliance (APGA) candidate in the November 6, 2021 election.
Soludo’s landslide victory at the polls was challenged in court by two plaintiffs, Adindu Valentine and Chukwuebuka Egwudike, claiming that he provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, in a ruling on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the suit, describing it as “frivolous, irritating, baseless, and lacking in merit”.
Also, the trial judge accused the two plaintiffs of seeking to use the courts as a tool to scuttle democracy and consequently awarded a punitive cost of N2million against them to be paid to the Anambra governor-elect and his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim.
In alleging that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) submitted to INEC, both Valentine and Egwudike had prayed the court to declare him unqualified to stand for election.
Specifically, the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021 claimed Soludo had indicated that he was contesting the Aguata 2 constituency seat; when in fact that the contest was for the Anambra governorship seat.
The suit also stated that his deputy claimed to be contesting the Awka constituency instead of the Anambra deputy governorship. Both men were said to have filed this information in an affidavit submitted to INEC.
The plaintiff identified Soludo, Ibezim, INEC, and APGA as defendants in the suit.
