The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed pre election suit that seek to disqualify Charles Soludo and his running mate Onyeka Ibezim from the concluded Anambra State Governorship election.
Charles Soludo won the November 6, 2021 Anambra State Governorship election under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but had the legal challenge arising from his own mistake on the form his filled.
The plaintiffs, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuk, in the suit they filed on July 19 claimed that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and thus should be deemed unqualified to stand for the November 6, 2021 governorship election.
Deliverying judgment on Wednesday in the suit, Justice Taiwo Taiwo said he found no merit in the suit and dismissed it with a cost of N20m against the plaintiff, in favour of the three defendants.
Justice Taiwo said although Soludo preliminary objection on the suit equally lacked merit and it should be dismissed . He held that the suit was not statute bar having been filed within time allowed by statute .
However,the plaintiffs suit lacked merit, he held as they could not convinced the court how Soludo has misled them and the electorates with the said declaration in Form EC 9 wherein Soludo had stated he was contesting Agwuta 11 constituency.
Justice Taiwo said the plaintiffs failed woefully to prove that Soludo lied on oath by the form EC 9. According to the judge , Soludo specifically stated in a deposed affidavit that he is contesting the governorship election.
“I am not convinced that this action is reasonable because prove of an alleged crimes must be beyond any reasonable doubt,” the judge said.
The judge described the suit as unnecessary and warned that “the court must not be used to stagnate democracy.”
He award a cost of two million Naira against the plaintiff in favour of the defendants.