The majority leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Chukwu, has been removed by the Federal High Court in Abakaliki from consideration as the All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Assembly candidate for the Ezza North West State constituency in the 2023 general election.
Prior to joining the APC, the lawmaker, who is running for re-election to the State House of Assembly, belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party, along with Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
Chukwu’s dismissal was related to pre-election issues and the veracity of his APC membership in the State.
The court granted all of the reliefs that Barr Leonard Igboke requested in his lawsuit, FHC/AI/CS/163/2022 (between Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke and Victor Uzoma Chukwu and 2 Ors).
Delivering his judgement, Justice Riman Fatum held that going by the Judgment delivered by Hon. Justice H A.Njoku of the Abakaliki High Court on 24/5/2022 ( just 2 days to the APC primary), Hon. Victor Uzoma Chukwu, purportedly became a member of APC on 24/5/2022, after the close of sale of nomination forms and screening of aspirants conducted by the APC, in the State.
He further held that Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke was the qualified and duly nominated House of Assembly candidate of APC in Ezza North West State constituency of the State.
The Court, therefore ordered the 3rd Defendant (INEC ) in the suit to delete the name and particulars of the 1st defendant, Hon. Victor Uzoma Chukwu, from it’s portal and consequently accept and publish the name of Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke as the authentic candidate of APC, for Ezza North West Constituency.
The ruling of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, finally laid to rest the contest as to who was the authentic candidate of the APC for Ezza North West Constituency, in the 2023 general election.
Reacting to the ruling, the candidate of APC, Ezza North West Constituency, Barr Leonard Nweke Igboke described the outcome of the Court as victory for democracy.
According to him, “I am happy and I give all the glory to God for restoring the hope of my constituents.
“This judgement really proves to all that the Judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man. And I assure our people that with me at the House of Assembly, they will get quality representations . The joke is now over. This victory for democracy.”
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