Stella Oduah, Andy Ubah removed by Supreme Court

The ruling of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has removed Stella Oduah and Andy Ubah as elected Senators of the Nigerian Senate on Friday, January 29.  The senators representing Anambra central  and Anambra south respectively had their election invalidated based on an appeal by a faction of the PDP in Anambra State led by Mr. Ejike Oguebego.

Both senators ran for office as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and were earlier declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the last senatorial election but the Supreme Court overturned their election victories.

Other law makers who have been caught in the web of party intrigues for constituent representation and court ruling include Lynda Ikpeazu, Tony Nwoye, Anayo, Nnebe, Chukwuka Onyema, Eucharia Azodo, Chris Azubogu and Obinna Chidoka, all of the House of Representatives.

In a related development, Mr. Oguebego’s case for recognition as the authentic executive of the party in the state and the right organ to conduct primary election prior to the 2015 election was set aside by the Court of Appeal early last year.

A Federal High Court, in Abuja, presided by Justice Evoh Chukwu, had in an earlier judgment affirmed Mr. Oguebego’s leadership of the party. However, the appeal court had set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and recognized the PDP faction led by Augustine Akobundo and INEC thereby accepting the nomination of Oduah, Ubah and Ekwunife.

Both factions had separate primaries but INEC duly accepted the nomination recognized by the appeal court and the national secretariat of the PDP.

Chuks Chinwoba, one of the counsels of the Oguebego faction said in spite of the appeal court’s decision, they still went ahead to conduct primary elections which was monitored and reported by INEC.

The Supreme Court also re-affirmed the chairmanship of Oguebego as the authentic state chairman of the PDP in Anambra state which automatically nullified the list of candidates for various elective positions submitted by the other faction.

Both the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives will be expected to swear in the senators as they assume office according to the court's ruling.

Notwithstanding these, both senators and the affected politicians have written to INEC not to withdraw their Certificates of Return.