Supreme Court rules PDP out of Imo west senatorial election

 

The Supreme Court has nullified the primary election of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, that produced Jones Onyeriri as its Senatorial candidate for Imo West in the National Assembly election in February, 2023.

The Apex Court nullified the primary election on grounds that it was conducted in Owerri, the Imo State Capital instead of Orlu being the Senatorial Headquarters of Imo West.

Justice Emmanuel Agim while delivering judgment on the appeal filed by Nnamdi Ezeani said that PDP grossly violated section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act by conducting the primary election outside the venue clearly stipulated by law.

The Apex Court held that by the judgment, PDP will not participate in the next month Senatorial election having failed to produce its candidate within time allowed by law.

Justice Agim also held that since the time for conduct of primary election to nominate candidates was already over, it is deemed that the party would not have a candidate in the February 25 National Assembly poll.

The apex court further stated that the PDP violated not only its constitution but also the Electoral Act, which is statute.

In the primary election for Imo West Senatorial District, James Onyeriri, a former House of Representatives member, who represented the Nwangele/Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre federal constituency, won with 228 votes, defeating ThankGod Ezeani, who polled 118 votes, while Jerry Alagbaso got 57 votes.

AIT