Stella Oduah, others to retain seats

– The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, February 24, have ruled that Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba, and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in Anambra State are to retain their seats

– The Justice said that only the National Executive of a party can forward a list to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which had severally been ruled by the Supreme Court

– The Supreme Court held that there was no issue of primaries before it as the case was filed in the High Court even before primaries and was therefore baffled that INEC would claim ignorance of it’s judgement

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, February 24, have ruled that Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba, and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in Anambra State are to retain their seats.

According to The Brief, ruling on the matter the Supreme Court Justice stated that they do not have the jurisdiction, “the court shall not review any judgement given by it, as stated in the court rules.

“The judgement of this Court is final as reflected in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

On the whole I hold the view that this court has no jurisdiction to entertain this motion from INEC, this matter is hereby stuck out.

However, the Justice said that only the National Executive of a party can forward a list to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which had severally been ruled by the Supreme Court.

READ ALSO:Why Supreme Court sacked Stella Oduah, others

At the beginning of hearing the motion for clarification of judgement, preliminary objections were raised, questioning the jurisdiction of the court to hear such a motion.

The court reminded that it was not it’s own judgement that it reinstated the earlier rulings of the High Court.

It reminded that a High Court had ruled on the issue, but was overturned by an Appeal Court. It said it only set aside the judgement of the Appeal Court, and restored the judgement of the High Court.

It then asked the Counsel to the INEC, Chief Awomolo, to convince the court that it had jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court held that there was no issue of primaries before it as the case was filed in the High Court even before primaries and was therefore baffled that INEC would claim ignorance of it’s judgement.

It will be recalled that the election of Stella Oduah and Andy Uba from Anambra state were nullified by the Supreme Court.

READ ALSO: Court Dismisses Petition Challenging Stella Oduah As Senator

They were sacked by the court in a ruling delivered on January 29 after which INEC had declared them winners after the senatorial election held last year.

Meanwhile, Dubem Obaze of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) sent in a petition challenging Oduah’s victory on grounds of alleged electoral fraud during the March 28 elections.

The Anambra State Legislative Election Petitions Tribunal last year dismissed a motion which sought to challenge the victory of the former minister of aviation, Stella Oduah as senator.

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