Imo troubled Guber battle: Court verdicts throw Okorocha, son-in-law into mourning

While Senator Ethelbert Okorocha’s son-in-law, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was on street tour of Owerri streets, yesterday, in defiance to the extant laws of the land, causing traffic jam and untold hardship to both motorists and pedestrians, little did he know that his locus at the ongoing governorship tribunal has been thrown aboard. 

Sources close to the family disclosed that every member of the family has been in the mourning mood, which arch followers discussing in groups.

In its judgment, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the name of Uche Nwosu as a governorship candidate in the last election held in Imo State.

Justice Inyang Ekwo voided Nwosu’s candidacy on the grounds of double nomination by two political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Action Alliance (AA) in violation of Section 37 of the Electoral Act.

The court in its judgement upheld the case of the plaintiffs, the Action People’s Party and its Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Uche Nnadi that Nwosu’s governorship candidature was null and void on the grounds of a multiplicity of nominations as the governorship candidate of both the APC and AA.

Justice Ekwo, however, declared that the nomination of Nwosu by the AA as a governorship candidate “is invalid, null and void, having been made at the pendency of similar nomination of the 2nd defendant (Nwosu) by the APC for the same position.”

The judge noted that Nwosu affirmed to be the APC’s governorship candidate in his statement on oath sworn before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

The judge similarly declared that Nwosu “has not been validly nominated by the 3rd defendant (AA) as its governorship candidate for the Imo State governorship election having been made at the pendency of the order of Justice Valentine Ashi of the Abuja High Court recognising the 2nd defendant as the candidate of the APC for the Imo State 2019 governorship election.”

He noted that Nwosu participated in the APC’s primary held on 6th October, 2018 and was subsequently nominated as the party’s governorship candidate.

While laying claim to the APC’s governorship ticket amidst stiff opposition from members of the party, he was said to have on 9th October, 2018 obtained an order of Justice Valentine Ashi (now deceased) of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, recognising him as the valid candidate of the party.

In the midst of this, Nwosu was also offered the ticket of the AA.

Delivering judgment on the plaintiffs’ case, Justice Ekwo held that “there is no controversy that, on October 6, 2018, the 2nd defendant (Nwosu) had himself nominated as the governorship candidate of the APC.

“Furthermore, there is no controversy that, to secure his nomination by the APC, the 2nd defendant on October 9, 2019, obtained an order of the High Court of the Federal High Court which subsists having not been set aside.”

“It is illegal in the eyes of the law. No one is allowed to benefit from an illegal act. The 2nd defendant allowed himself to be nominated by the APC and the 3rd defendant (AA).”

“It is hereby declared that the nomination of the 2nd defendant by the All Progressives Congress and Action Alliance, the 3rd defendant, is invalid, null and void and constitute a violation of section 37 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

“An order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the 1st defendant (INEC) to remove the name of the 2nd defendant (Nwosu) as the governorship of the 3rd defendant (AA) in the 2019 Imo State governorship election for multiple nominations in violation of the provision of section 37 of the Electoral Act 2018 (as amended).

“An order of this honourable court is hereby made restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from recognising the 2nd defendant (Nwosu) as the governorship of the 3rd defendant (AA) and/or any other political party for the 2019 Imo State governorship election.

“An order of this honourable court is hereby made restraining the 1st defendant (INEC) from giving value to any act done in pursuance of the 2nd defendant purported candidature of the 3rd defendant (AA) and/or any other political party in the 2019 Imo State governorship election.”

According to one Nwosu’s aides, he said he will appeal the ruling, saying that it is in contradiction with the Judgement they earlier at the supreme court, validating his candidature of AA.