Anambra Guber: Court declares Moghalu APC candidate, restrains Andy Uba

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday declared Chief George Moghalu as the validly nominated candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the purpose of the November 6, Anambra state governorship election.

The court made the order in a judgement on a suit filed by Chief Moghalu against the All Progressives Congress, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Dr Andy Uba.

Moghalu, was among the 14 aspirants who purchased forms to contest the November 6, governorship election under the platform of the APC.

Justice Ekwo in his judgment disqualified Andy Uba as the candidate of APC, insisting that the party had no candidate in the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election.

Consequently, the court has ordered Senator Andy Uba to stop parading himself as candidate of the APC.

More so, the court ordered the APC to refund Chief Dr George Moghalu his Nomination and Express of Interest form fees.

By the suit, Moghalu had alleged that his party, APC failed to conduct a valid primary election for the selection/nomination of the its candidate in the November 6, governorship election in Anambra state.

He was aggrieved that he was robbed of the APC gubernatorial ticket in favour of Andy Uba.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/648/21, was commenced through an originating summon dated and filed 8, July 2021, and filed by Chief Chris Uche SAN, on behalf of Moghalu.

The plaintiff had asked the court to compel INEC to delist the name of Mr. Andy Uba and the APC from among the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the November 6 election or any subsequent postponement.

Specifically, Moghalu prayed the court to declare that APC failed to conduct a valid primary election in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Electoral Act and the APC’s constitution and guidelines for election.

In addition, he demanded the sum of N22.5 million damages from the APC, insisting the sum of N22.5 million was meant for the refund of payment for the expression of interest form and nomination form.

He also prayed the court to order the APC to pay him the sum of N100 million as “exemplary and general damages for the breach of contract to commence and conclude primary election and or breach of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the regulations and guidelines of the political party”.