An aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Anambra State House of Assembly for the Onitsha South 1 Constituency seat, Hon. Chris Arinze had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, PDP, and Hon. Ejike Umeojiako, to the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged falsification of documents.
Arinze prayed the court to declare him as the only validly nominated candidate for Onitsha South 1, Constituency of Anambra State, House of Assembly under the platform of PDP for the 2023 general election and recognition, shortlisting, published of his name by INEC, as the only candidate of PDP in the Constituency for the election.
The aspirant, in the Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1314/2022, also prayed the Court to determine whether or not the combined reading and construction of Form EC9, filled and submitted by the 3rd Respondent to the 1st Respondent, INEC, and the credentials attached thereto vis-a-vis the provision of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the 3rd Respondent did not present false information to INEC, for the purpose of the 2023 general election for the House of Assembly seat in Onitsha South 1 Constituency, Anambra State.
Whether or not the combined reading of the affidavit attached to the Originating Simmons, the Exhibits attached and the relevant provision of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the INEC was right to have shortlisted and published the Name/Form EC9 of Hon. Ejike Umeojiako as the PDP’s candidate for the House of Assembly Onitsha South 1 Constituency in Anambra State on the 22nd day of July 2022, instead of his Hon. Chris Arinze’s name for the 2023 general election.
He is also asking the Court to determine whether or not based on the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, he is not entitled to all the consequential reliefs sought in the Originating Summons.
Hon. Arinze is also seeking consequential reliefs: A declaration that the information submitted by the Hon Umeojiako on oath vides Form EC 9 to INEC on 13, July 2022 and published on 22nd July 2022 by the INECwas /is false. A declaration that the 3r Respondent submitted false document to INEC for the purpose of satisfying the Constitutional requirement to contest the 2023 general election as a House of Assembly member in Anambra State.
A declaration that he, Hon. Chris Arinze is the only validly nominated candidate of the PDP for the House if Assembly, Onitsha South 1 Constituency in Anambra State whose name ought to have been shortlisted and published by INEC, a declaration that the decision of INEC short-listihg and publishing the Affidavit of Hon. Umeojiako as PDP’s candidate instead of him outside the mandatory seven days from the date of submission of Form EC9 is illegal, wrongful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever ever.
Other consequential reliefs sought by Hon Arinze are “an order of the Court disqualifying Hon. Umeojiako from contesting /participating in the 2023 election under the platform of PDP for Onitsha South 1 Constituency in Anambra State, having presented false information/documents to the INEC for the purpose of satisfying the Constitutional requirement to contest the 2023 general election as a House of Assembly member in Anambra State.”
“An order of the Court directing INEC to shortlist and publish the name of Hon. Chris Arinze as the PDP’s qualified candidate for the House of Assembly, Onitsha South 1, Constituency in Anambra State for the 2023 general election, while nullifying /cancelling the name of Hon. Umeojiako forthwith.
“An Order of the Court replacing /directing INEC and PDP to replace the name of Hon. Umeojiako with Hon. Arinze under the platform of PDP as the only candidate validly nominated for the Onitsha South 1, Constituency, Anambea State House of Assembly election 2023, and an order of the honourable Court recognizing Hon. Arinze as the only validly nominated candidate for Onitsha South 1, Constituency of Anambra State, House of Assembly under the platform of PDP for the 2023 general election, just as a Cost of N20,000,000,00 in prosecuting his suit and such other Orders as the honourable Court may think just to make in the circumstance.”
