The Federal High Court 1, Awka, presided over by Hon Justice H. A. Nganjiwa has disqualified Chief Victor Umeh from contesting in the February 25, 2023 senatorial election.
Umeh was, until Friday afternoon, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Anambra Central Senatorial poll.
The court, in its judgment, disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The cause of action had to do with his valid membership of the Labour Party otherwise he was not qualified ab initio to contest the party’s primary poll.
The court noted that there was no evidence that the resignation letter by Umeh to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), his former party, was actually received by the party.
Therefore, his name was still in the register of members of APGA as of September 30, 2022 when he was said to have contested the LP’s primary poll.
In the corollary, his (Umeh’s) name was not deemed to be in the register of members of Labour party as of June 3, 2022, date of primary of LP.
The court, therefore, declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as a candidate earlier by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court held that Umeh failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution.
It, therefore, declared as null and void the publication of Umeh’s name as candidate of the LP, hence of no effect.
The court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as senatorial candidate of LP.
The injunction also prevented the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as its candidate.