Federal High Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Nomination Of Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo As Candidate Of APGA

The Federal High Court, Awka Judicial Division presided over by His Lordship, Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa has dismissed the suit brought by a sitting House of Representatives member, Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo, challenging the nomination of Prof Charles Soludo as the candidate of APGA for the Anambra State Governorship election.

Hon Ezenwankwo had approached the Court vide SUIT NO:FHC/AWK/CS/43/2021 HON. OKWUDILI EZENWANKWO V APGA & Ors, seeking to nullify the primary election of APGA held on the 23rd of June, 2021. Hon Ezenwankwo had alleged that APGA did not conduct the Adhoc Delegates’ Congress to elect the delegates that would vote at the primary election. He thus contended that the purported non conduct of the delegates’ election vitiated the nomination of Prof Charles Soludo as the candidate of APGA. 

APGA had, through its team of lawyers led by PIN Ikwueto SAN challenged the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the matter on the grounds, inter alia, that the suit was statute barred and that the complaint of the plaintiff border on the internal affairs of APGA which is non justiciable. 

While delivering its judgment earlier today being the 10th of December, 2021, the Honourable court agreed with the submissions of the learned senior Advocate for the defendants, PIN Ikwueto SAN. The court held that the suit filed by the plaintiff was indeed statute barred and liable to be dismissed. The court further upheld the contention that the subject matter of the suit borders on the internal affairs of APGA, an issue which is non justiciable. Consequently, the Honourable court dismissed the suit.