The Labour Party senatorial candidate for Anambra Central zone in the February 25 general election, Chief Victor Umeh, has been disqualified by a Federal High Court 1, sitting in Awka.
The Federal High Court 1, Awka presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, on Friday, disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
In a three-hour judgment, Nganjiwa disqualified Umeh on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act as it concerns his membership status of party primary.
The court noted that there was no evidence that the resignation letter by Umeh to the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was actually received by the party.
The court said his name was still in the membership register of APGA as of September 30, 2022 when he contested the party’s primary. It also said Umeh’s name was not in the membership register of Labour Party as at the June 3, 2022, date of primary of the 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, as he failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the LP constitution. The court therefore declared the publication as null and void and of no effect.
The court also issued an injunction restraining Umeh from parading himself as the senatorial candidate of LP. The injunction also prevented the LP from accepting or presenting Umeh as her candidate.
Efforts to get Umeh’s reaction proved abortive as his telephone line indicated switched off. But one of his media aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Umeh was in Achalla for his campaign rally and had switched off his line.
