Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Soludo’s Election
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the case against the election of Prof. Charles Soludo as the Governor-elect of Anambra State.
The suit seeks to nullify the victory of the governor-elect and the deputy governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim, on allegations that Soludo provided false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the suit on Wednesday on grounds that it lacked merit and that it was a waste of the court’s time. He urged the plaintiffs not to use the court as a tool to stagnate democracy.
The plaintiffs, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka, had in their suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, alleged that Soludo lied in the affidavit (Form EC9), which he submitted to INEC.
INEC, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Soludo, and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, were cited as defendants in the suit.
The plaintiffs claimed that Soludo and his running mate had filled in different elective positions in their nomination forms.
The parties claimed the governor-elect stated that he was contesting the Aguata II Constituency seat, while the deputy governor-elect stated that he was contending for the Awka II Constituency seat in the forms they submitted to INEC.
The court also awarded a sum of N2 million against the plaintiffs, in favour of the APGA, Soludo and Ibezim.
