The Imo State Election Petitions Appeal Court 2, convened in Lagos, has declared Emeka Martins Chinedu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the rightful candidate of the party and the duly elected representative for the Ahiazu/Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.
The ruling, delivered in a unanimous decision by the Appeal Court Justices, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, marks the culmination of a long-standing dispute over the PDP primaries’ venue, which was previously considered beyond the jurisdiction of the Appeal Court.
The court dismissed the appeals lodged by Nnanna Igbokwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Darlington Amaechi of the Labour Party, citing a lack of merit and failure to substantiate their claims.
READ ALSO: Ex-VP’s aide: Either Atiku Steps Down his Presidential ambition or be Expelled from PDP
The decision aligns with a previous judgment from the Tribunal for National and State Assembly Elections for Imo State on September 7, 2023, which had similarly recognized Emeka Chinedu as the legitimate winner of the Ahiazu/Ezinifite/Mbaise Federal Constituency seat.
It was emphasized by the Tribunal that other political parties had no legal standing to interfere in the internal affairs of rival parties, particularly concerning venue issues related to primaries.
The Supreme Court’s previous validation of Emeka’s primary election was deemed definitive, and no other judgments could challenge his legitimacy.
The matter had already been extensively examined by the High Court, Appeal Court, and Supreme Court, all of which consistently upheld Emeka Chinedu as the rightful candidate of the PDP.
Nnanna Igbokwe of the APC was consistently rejected as an “interloper” attempting to meddle in the PDP’s internal affairs. A similar case involving Ikeagwuonu Onyinye Ugochinyere (Ikenga), representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, also had its PDP primary elections at the same venue, with the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court confirming Ugochinyere’s eligibility to contest the election.
In response to the judgment, the Centre for Judicial Integrity Watch, a pro-judiciary group, celebrated the Appeal Court’s decision as a victory for democracy. They emphasized that both the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court had consistently affirmed that the Tribunal lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate in such matters.
Abubakar Isah, the Convener of the Centre for Judicial Integrity Watch, expressed surprise at the Appeal Court’s decision and advised that the court should avoid creating an impression of picking and choosing on clear issues of law with abundant judicial precedent and constitutional provisions.