Appeal court affirms Emeka Chinedu winner of Imo reps seat

The Imo state election petitions appeal court sitting in Lagos, has affirmed the election of Emeka Chinedu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the house of representatives election for Ahiazu Mbaise/ Ezinihitte federal constituency of the state.

On September 7, 2023, the state assembly election petitions tribunal declared Chinedu the winner of the election.

The court also determined that other political parties lacked the authority or locus standi to interfere in the internal affairs of their opposing political party.

The court said the issues of venue of primary election were purely pre-election matters, which the Tribunal lacks the powers and jurisdiction to dabble into.

In their ruling on Saturday, the court agreed with the findings of the election petitions tribunal and struck out the appeals by Nnanna Igbokwe of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and Darlington Amaechi, Labour Party (LP) candidate, as lacking in merit and law as the issues canvassed were not proved.

Reacting to the verdict, the Center for Judicial Integrity Watch hailed the appeal court judgement affirming Chinedu’s election.

The centre said the judgement is victory for democracy as the issue of venue of PDP primaries and sponsorship are clear issues the appeal court and supreme court have declared that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to entertain.

The center also expressed dismay at the decision of the same appeal panel to refuse to uphold the other election of Jonas Okeke, another lawmaker whose primary election held at the same venue with Chinedu Emeka and advised that the court should avoid creating the impression of ‘pick and chose’ on clear issues of law with abundant judicial precedent and constitutional provision.