By Gideon Njoku
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday hit the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, another unforgettable blow. The Apex Court, on Friday, January 13, 2923, sacked the Party’s Senatorial Candidate for Imo West, Jones Onyereri, PhD. And to nail it where it hurts most, it disqualified the Party from fielding another candidate during the Senatorial election billed for February 25, 2023.
In disqualifying the PDP candidate, the Supreme Court held that Onyereri’s emergence is a product of illegality. It also held that the time for the conduct of another primary is gone.
The PDP would, therefore, not participate in the election for Imo West Senatorial Zone – Orlu.
Justice Emmanuel Agim who read the judgement on behalf of his brother- Justices, upheld the appeal filed by Nnamdi Ezeani that the PDP violated section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act by conducting the Primary election outside the venue stipulated by law.
The Primary was conducted in Owerri instead of Orlu, the Senatorial headquarters of Imo West.
He held that by the judgment, PDP is barred from participatg in next month’s Senatorial election because it failed to produce its candidate within the stipulated time allowed by law.
Agim advised political parties to conduct their affairs within the period stipulated by the law. He pointed out that section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act is specific on where primary elections should be held.
This is a terrible blow to both the PDP and Onyereri.
For months, Dr Onyereri, a former House of Representatives member, had embarked on a robust and vigorous campaign for the election, spending dozens of millions of Naira in philanthropic activities.
This is the second time, within four years the Supreme Court would spoil Imo PDP’s fun. In January, 2020, it removed from office, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as the Governor of Imo State after about eight months in office. The Apex Court declared Senator Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected Governor of the State.
Not a few people now think that the election which had three front-runners including Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Charles Ahize of the Labour Party, LP, is now a straight fight between Izunaso and Ahize.
The incumbent Senator is former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
