By Joseph Albert (Umunna TV)
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sacked a House of Representatives member, Honourable Chris Azubogu, as the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Anambra South Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.
Azubogu was kicked out of the senatorial race on grounds of his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) when in June this year he stood for the primary election under APGA for Anambra South Senatorial District.
Delivering judgment in the suit filed by Mr. Ben Nwankwo, in which he challenged the nomination of Azubogu, Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the lawmaker violated Section 65 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution in the unlawful ways and manners he stood for the primary election under APGA platform and got nominated for the February next year senatorial election.
The Judge agreed with the plaintiff that Azubogu ought to have resigned, defected or cross carpeted from PDP to APGA before he can lawfully qualify to stand for primary election on APGA platform.
Justice Ekwo held that as a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Nnewi North/ Nnewi South/ Ekwusigo Federal Constituency under the PDP ticket, Azubogu ought to have relinquished the seat if he had actually resigned his membership, defected from PDP to APGA or another political party .
The court held that without complying with mandatory provisions of Sections 65 and 68 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 27 of the APGA guidelines for primary election for 2022, there was no way the federal lawmaker can lawfully participate in any primary election other than that of the PDP.
The court held that as at June 1, 2022 when APGA conducted its primary election for the nomination of candidate for Anambra South Senatorial District, Azubogu was not qualified to participate. (Channels News)
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