Court Dismisses Suit filed for Disqualification of Anambra Governor-Elect, Soludo

A Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has dismissed a suit filed for the disqualification of Prof Charles Soludo as the governor-elect of Anambra State.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, while delivering the judgment, described the suit as frivolous, irritating, and lacking in merit.

The judge however, awarded a punitive cost of N2million against the two plaintiffs to be paid to Soludo and his deputy, Ibezim.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuk, the plaintiffs, had alleged that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and thus should be deemed unqualified to stand for election.

The applicants had contended that Soludo and Onyeka Ibezim, deputy governor-elect, indicated, in their forms, that they were contesting the Aguata 2 and Awka 2 constituency seats respectively instead of the Anambra governorship seat.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, also held that the suit was “unnecessary.”