Anambra Guber: Soludo to know fate at Supreme Court Friday

The Supreme Court will on Friday decide the fate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its governorship candidate in the November 6 poll, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

The apex court is expected to determine which of the factional executives of the party was legal and validly conducted the party’s governorship primaries in Anambra State.

The outcome of the Supreme Court’s verdict will decide whether or not Soludo or a member of the House of Representatives, Chukwuma Michael Umeoji, is APGA’s candidate for the governorship poll.

The apex court took the decision yesterday after hearing from the counsel of some leaders of APGA who have been involved in legal battle – from the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Although the case had been on at the Supreme Court in the last two weeks, it was at yesterday’s session the apex court gave the parties a notice that it would announce its position on Friday.

The leading lawyers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and A. U. Mustapha (SAN), were given till tomorrow to make all their submissions to the court.

Based on the primaries conducted by Victor Oye and Chief Edozie Njoku faction of APGA, Soludo was, on June 23, elected the party’s candidate with 740 votes out of 812 delegates.

But Umeoji, who is representing Aguata Federal Constituency, was on July 1 elected by Chief Jude Okeke faction of APGA with 904 votes out of 1,138 delegates.

The Okeke-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had suspended

Following a court judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on July 16, 2021, recognised Umeoji as APGA candidate for the governorship poll.

But an Anambra High Court in Awka, on July 19, ordered INEC to restore Soludo as APGA candidate.

According to records, APGA has been in a crisis since the tenure of its national officers ended in 2019.

The leaders of the party had been in and out of the High Court and the Court of Appeal before landing at the Supreme Court.

Now, the apex court is set to lay the controversy to rest on Friday.

Presiding Justice Mary Odili said the summary of the Supreme Court’s decision will be made available on Friday and the details given later.

A party to the matter, who spoke in confidence, said: “A counsel, A. U. Mustapha (SAN), submitted before the Supreme Court that the case is a pre-election matter and the 60 days allowable by the 1999 Constitution to hear such a matter will elapse on Friday.

“It was based on the counsel’s submission, which was upheld by the court, that the Supreme Court said it will deliver its judgment on Friday. The court directed all parties to make their submissions on or before Thursday.

“All the parties have been informed of the pending Supreme Court judgment on Friday. This will determine the fate of APGA and our governorship candidate.

(The Nation)