Federal High Court dismisses suit to invalidate the election in the just concluded Anambra State governorship poll

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit to invalidate the election of Professor Charles Soludo in the just concluded Anambra State governorship poll. 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. He also awarded two million naira to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Soludo, and Ibezim who were the second, third, and fourth respondents in the suit while INEC was the first defendant.

It will be recalled that the plaintiffs, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka, through their lawyer Kelvin Okoko, claimed that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit he submitted to the electoral umpire. They also alleged that Soludo indicated in the affidavit that he was contesting the Aguata II Constituency seat when, in fact, he was contesting the governorship seat.