Chidi Samuel
The Supreme Court will on May 12, 2017, deliver Judgement on applications relating to the Abia State governorship tussle.
A five-member panel of the apex court presided over by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, gave the date after hearing arguments from all parties on the matter on Wednesday.
Mr Samson Ogah, had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the August 18, 2016 ruling of the Appeal Court which reversed a the judgement by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court that declared him the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2015 governorship election and by implication the Governor of the state instead of Okezie Ikpeazu the current Gov
Alex Izinyon Counsel to Mr Ogah, argued before the court that his client asked to be returned as the authentic candidate of the PDP in the said election because the incumbent governor was found guilty of falsifying tax documents. He further argued that Mr. Ogah had emerged runner-up to Mr. Ikpeazu which also formed the bases for his qualification as the authentic candidate in the election, given the indictment against Mr. Ikpeazu.
According to Izinyon, based on the law, issues bordering on falsification of such documents had adverse effect on the qualification or otherwise of the candidate in an election.
He concluded by stating that the offence for which Mr. Ikpeazu was accused was a pre-election matter which should determine his qualification or otherwise as a candidate in the election.
In his response, Governor Ikpeazu’s lawyer, Wole Olanikpekun, argued that the appeal court took due consideration of the appropriate sections of the law and found that his client was duly qualified for the said election, as against the ruling of the Federal High Court.