Appeal court affirms Victor Umeh as LP senatorial candidate in Anambra

The court of appeal in Awka, has affirmed Victor Umeh as the senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the Anambra central district.

Olubunmi Oyewole, judge who read the judgment via zoom on Thursday, said the court allowed the two appeals filed by LP and Umeh.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Uche Ekwunife, the senatorial candidate of the PDP, had sued Umeh before the federal high court on the grounds that he did not resign from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), before picking the LP ticket.

On January 27, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, upheld the PDP’s case and disqualified Umeh.

Consequently, LP and Umeh, through their counsels, Alex Ejesieme and Patrick Ikwetoh respectively, appealed the judgment on the grounds that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.

In the judgment, the court of appeal held that the federal high court erred when it disqualified Umeh as the party’s candidate.

The appellate court held that the suit was statute barred having been filed out of time. The court also agreed that the respondents lacked the locus standi to file the suit.

The judgment of the federal high court was set aside and Umeh was affirmed senatorial candidate for Anambra central district.