Valentine Ozigbo’s effort to have his name listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 election in Anambra has suffered yet another setback.
Recall that PDP had no candidate when INEC published names of candidates for Anambra State governorship election last week.
Ozigbo had earlier gotten a court order asking INEC to publish his as the Candidate of PDP.
But two different judgements were delivered today against Ozigbo’s candidacy in both Federal and State High Courts in Awka.
In one of the judgments, Anambra State High Court in Awka ordered the INEC to list Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the Anambra governorship candidate of PDP.
The court presided over by Justice Obiora Nwabunike in a matter brought before him by Senator Ugochukwu Uba against Valentine Ozigbo on Anambra chapter of PDP and the INEC, said Uba’s faction of the party held their primary election in line with the guideline of the party and should be listed as the governorship candidate.
The court also awarded a cost of N10 million against Ozigbo and PDP, to be paid to Uba as a cost of litigation.
In another judgement, Federal High Court Awka presided over by Justice Ngajiwa today refused to vacate the order he gave to all parties in PDP suit to maintain status quo until the motion on notice before the court is heard and determined.
All efforts made by Val Ozigbo through his counsel to vacate the order obtained by Genevieve Ekwochi suffered a huge set back ,as the judge re-afirmed his order that no party to the suit should take any further step on subject matter, pending the determination of the motion on notice pending before the court.
The judge maintained that all parties to this suit both PDP and INEC should maintain status quo.
The INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye had referenced the court order obtained by Genevieve Ekwochi, who also contested the Governorship primaries of PDP on June 26 as part of the reason the commission could not publish the name of Valentine Chineto Ozigbo or any candidate as the governorship candidate of PDP for November 6 Anambra state governorship election.
With the sustenance of the order, it is unclear if PDP will have a candidate on November 6 election as the matter was adjourned to 21st of September 2021 for continuation of hearing.
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