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The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has upturned the judgement of a Federal High Court, Owerri, which faulted the nomination of Okey Ezeh, as Imo Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the last general elections.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Raphael Agbo, the appellate court ruled that the lower court did not “give fair hearing to both Ezeh and the SDP”, in a suit filed by Casmir Anyanwu challenging the party’s alleged decision to exclude his name on the list and changing it with Eze’s name, after he reportedly won in the primary.
After hearing the appeal brought before it by Ezeh’s counsel, Austin Nwachukwu, the court reinstated the candidacy of Ezeh.
It therefore declared the judgement of the lower court, which held Anyanwu as the party’s candidate in the governorship poll null and void.
The court also ordered the Federal High Court to re-assign the case to another judge for fresh trial.
Nwachukwu expressed happiness over the ruling, saying it was on the side of justice and fairness, maintaining that the “judiciary in Nigeria is the last hope of the common man.”
However, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the SDP has ratified the expulsion of Anyanwu from the party.
In a letter signed by the national secretary, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, the expulsion took effect from March 1, 2019.
The party’s highest organ regretted that Anyanwu had allegedly continued to engage in “anti-party activities, disloyalty and divisive conduct, which have greatly undermined the interest, goodwill and image of the party in Imo State.”
“The National Working Committee of the party has seriously considered your conduct and has deemed same as totally unacceptable to the party.
“In view of this, it has approved your expulsion from the party with effect from March 1, 2019,” the statement read in part.