The Anambra State Governor elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo have been dragged to court for allegedly submitting a false affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the suit filed in the Federal High Court Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, the plaintiffs; Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuka are challenging the qualification of Soludo and Deputy governor-elect, Onyeka Ibezim, to contest the November 6 governorship election in the state.
According to the suit, Soludo had in the affidavit (Form EC9) submitted to INEC in July, indicated that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when, in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat.
Lawyers representing the petitioners, A. O. Ijeri and Kelvin Okoko, argued that Soludo gave the electoral Body a false information by indicating the wrong seat thereby violating extant legal provisions and ought to be disqualified.
“The constitution has made a state a constituency in relation to the governorship election, but in this case, the third defendant (Soludo) named Aguata 2 as the constituency he is contesting.
““There is evidence that INEC received the submitted Form EC9 on July 6n 2021,” Ijeri said.
He prayed the court to find merit in the case and grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
In their defense, Lawyer for APGA and Soludo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and Lawyer to Ibezim, C. Mbaeri, argued that the suit was without merit and the court lacked jurisdiction.
Ikpeazu argued that error in an affidavit cannot be a basis to disqualify a candidate from election, noting that the false information contemplated in Section 31 of the Electoral Act was criminal in nature.
They prayed the court on Tuesday, to dismiss the suit as it lacks merit.
The presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, slated to give judgement on the matter on November 30, 2021.
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