2023 Senatorial Candidacy: Court Dismisses Suit Against Stella Oduah
On Tuesday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court dismissed a suit attempting to invalidate Stella Oduah's nomination as the Peoples Democratic Party's candidate for senator in Anambra State.
In a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo found that the claim was status-barred and dismissed it.
John Emeka, a candidate in the PDP primary election held on May 27 and overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), filed a petition with Mr Ekwo on October 13 requesting a ruling on the matter.
It was reported that the plaintiff had filed suit against Ms Oduah, the PDP, and the INEC.
Mr Emeka claimed that Ms Oduah lied under oath in her nomination and interest documents submitted to INEC for the 2023 Anambra North Senatorial District seat, specifically INEC Form CF001.
In a summon marked FHC/ABJ/CS/841/2022, filed on June 8 by his attorney Mbanefo Ikwegbue, Mr Emeka asked the court to rule that Ms Oduah had knowingly provided false information on her INEC Form CF001 about her engagement in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
He stated that the senator had, under oath, utilized the same information to run as the PDP candidate for the Anambra North Senatorial District in both the 2015 and 2019 general elections.
He claims that clauses 12(1)(a)(b)(c) and 13(1)(a) of the NYSC Act are violated.
Furthermore, he asked the court to rule that she was ineligible to run for office in the Nigerian Senate since she lied on her INEC Form CF 001 about serving in the National Youth Service Corps.