![]() |
Stella Oduah |
The
Supreme Court yesterday explained its January 29 judgment in relation to the
leadership dispute in the Anambra chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
The
court said the judgment did not resolve the question relating to the legitimacy
or otherwise of the list of candidates submitted for the National Assembly
election by the factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra
State, because the issue was not before it.
By
implication, the Supreme Court ruled that Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba,
and other PDP lawmakers in Anambra State are to retain their seats.
It
said although it upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt,
to the effect that the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive Committee of the Anambra
PDP was the authentic body to run the party’s affairs, it did not say the
Oguebego Exco could assume the responsibilities of the party’s National
Executive Committee (NEC).
Justice
John Okoro, who read the lead ruling of a five-man bench, said the Supreme
Court neither ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
accept the list of candidates for the National Assembly from the Oguebego-led
Exco nor did it direct INEC to conduct fresh elections into the National
Assembly in the state.
The
court’s position was contained in its ruling yesterday on a motion by INEC,
asking the court to clarify its position in the judgment it gave on January 29.
INEC,
in its motion filed on February 8, asked the court whether, by virtue of the
judgment, it should issue certificate of return to the names contained in the
list submitted by the Oguebego-led Exco or conduct fresh elections.
The
court dismissed the motion filed and argued by Adegboyega Awomoolo (SAN) for
INEC and upheld the objection by lawyer to the Oguebego-led Exco, Chris Uche
(SAN), on the grounds that it lacked the jurisdiction to engage in the
clarification of a judgment that was straightforward and written in simple
language.
The
court, on January 29, delivered its judgment in the appeal between Ejike
Oguebego and Another versus Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and two others.
“It
is untrue that parties do not understand the import of our judgment. Where in
the judgment did we state that the Oguebego-led committee should take over the
functions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP so that it can
submit list to INEC? I think counsel are not fair to this court when they say
they do not understand the judgment of this court, which was written in simple
English language.
“May
I admonish counsel, both senior and junior, that in the course of their job,
they have a duty to this court. As much as they owe a duty to their clients,
they also owe a duty to the public not to mislead them. On the whole, I hold
the view that this court lacked the jurisdiction to hear this motion that was
filed on the February 8, 2016. It is hereby struck out,” Justice Okoro said in
his lead ruling.
Other
members of the panel, including Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, Mary Peter-Odili,
Datijo Muhammad, and Kumai Akaa’hs agreed with Justice Okoro’s reasoning.
FOR MORE STORIES VISIT
CKN NEWS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:
Twitter: @CKNNigeria
Facebook: CKNNigeria
CKN NEWS Hotline:
08080054001
Whatsapp: 08099677755
BBM : 2BE329DF
Website: www.cknnigeria.com
Tags
Politics