Anambra: Supreme Court dismisses Ngige’s, Nwoye’s appeals

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed appeals filed by Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress and Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party challenging Governor Willie Obiano’s election in Anambra State.
Delivering judgments in the separate appeals filed by the APC and PDP candidates, the apex court said that they lacked merit and dismissed them.
The judgments were delivered by Justices Kumai Akaahs and Olukayode Ariwoola.
In rejecting all the grounds of the appeals, the seven-man panel unanimously affirmed the November 16, 2013 election which brought Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance into office.
The court held: “The applicants were unable to prove the allegations of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, which they filed against the respondent.
“Also, they did not prove that the election was not conducted substantially in compliance with the provisions of the Act as alleged.
“The appeal is hereby dismissed in its entirety.”
It further held that Obiano did not engage in multiple registrations as claimed by the appellants.
According to the court, the governor simply transferred his voter’s card from Lagos State, where he initially registered, to Anambra State, his state of origin, which is allowed in law.
It said that the grounds of the appeals did not warrant the governor’s disqualification as the applicants prayed.
The Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had on July 26 unanimously dismissed the applicants’ suit.
The five-man panel had affirmed the judgment of the Justice Ishaq Bello-led Anambra State Elections Petitions Tribunal, delivered on June 24.
The tribunal upheld the election of Obiano, who was sworn-in in March to succeed former Governor Peter Obi, also of APGA.
The apex court’s verdict on Monday essentially marks the end of the litany of litigations against Obiano’s victory at the poll.
Ngige’s counsel, Emeka Ngige (SAN), had urged the courts to cancel the election and order a fresh one due to alleged irregularities.
This was, however, challenged by Obiano through his counsel, Patrick Ikweato.