Anambra: Court reserves ruling on Victor Umeh’s appeal against disqualification as LP candidate

The Court of Appeal sitting in Awka, on Wednesday, reserved a ruling on the appeal filed by Senator Victor Umeh of the Labour Party (LP) against his candidacy in the February election for Anambra Central Senatorial District.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, the panel’s presiding judge, announced this after counsel to the appellant and respondents adopted their written arguments.

Mr Oyewole said the court would communicate the date for the judgement to the parties after going through their written addresses.

Alex Ejesieme SAN, LP counsel, who relied on his written appeal dated February 7, prayed the court to uphold the appeal and set aside the trial court’s judgement for lack of locus.

Mr Ejesieme cited several judgements on related matters, including that of Justice Kolawole of the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt on Suit. No. CA/PH 480/2022, delivered on November 29, on the case between PDP vs INEC and 11 others.

He described the trial court judgement as “rather unfortunate“ in light of the numerous decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on the subject matter.

He also prayed the court to dismiss the preliminary objection filed by the respondents, saying it was ill-conceived.

Adopting his written argument, B.E.I Nwofor SAN, counsel to Mr Ekwunife and the PDP, prayed the court to dismiss the appeal and sustain the trial court’s judgement.

(NAN)