The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division (Owerri) has granted an Order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) from conducting Re-run election in Aboh Mbaise / Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency.
Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu granted the order on Wednesday following an Order staying execution of Judgement of the Honorable Court delivered on the 20th January, 2023 only as regards the Order for a fresh Primary election for Aboh-Mbaise / Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency of Imo State pending the hearing and final determination of the Applicant's Appeal before the Supreme Court on the propriety of the said Order for fresh Primary.
Listed as respondents are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC), Hon Bede Eke and Agulanna Chibuzor.
In a motion on notice of stay execution, Dr Uzoma Iheanyi Ugochukwu, prayed the court to restrain the 1st and 2nd respondents from enforcing in anyway whatsoever the judgement of the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri delivered on 20th January, 2023 by way of conducting a re-run primary election for Aboh-Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency And for such further Order (s) as the Honorable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
Justice Rita Nosakhare Pemu granted the application and made the Order sought by the applicant.
Meanwhile, our Judiciary Correspondent gathered that some leaders of the party from the affected federal constituency are making efforts to financially induce INEC top officials in Imo State to arrange for a fresh re-run primary election in the federal constituency on or before 7am on Thursday, February, 2nd, 2023 prior to when the Electoral body will be served Certified True Copy (CTC) from the Appellate Court.
Recall that a kangaroo re-run primary election was conducted on Friday, 27th, January, 2023 by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at Oriental Garden Resort, Umuowa, Ngor Okpala LGA without INEC observing the exercise.
Political pundits had queried absence of the nation's Electoral umpire empowered by the Constitution to monitor the election but with the latest appellate Court Judgement, the supposed re-run primary election conducted penultimate week in Ngor Okpala LGA is said to be null and void.
Will INEC allow it's officials in Owerri to conduct a re-run election in Imo without citing a certified true copy from the Court, political watchers in the state will be curious to know.
Below is CTC from the Court of Appeal.
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