Appeal Court president told to review judgment sacking Senate minority whip
Coalition Calls for Review of Abia Central Senatorial Seat Judgment.
The Coalition for Social Justice and Good Governance (CSJGG) has issued a call to the President of the Court of Appeal to establish a panel for the review of the recent judgment in the Abia Central senatorial seat dispute.
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This development comes in the wake of a contentious legal battle between Augustine Akobundu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party, who also holds the position of Senate Minority Whip.
Mr. Ciroma Ahmed, the co-convener of the coalition, conveyed this request in a statement released on Monday in Abuja. The case in question pertains to the 2023 National Assembly elections in which Augustine Akobundu and Darlington Nwokocha vied for the Abia Central senatorial district seat. Nwokocha emerged as the victor, securing 92,116 votes, while Akobundu garnered 41,447 votes.
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However, dissatisfaction with the election outcome prompted Mr. Akobundu to seek legal recourse, resulting in the matter being brought before the Appeal Court. On Saturday, a judgment was delivered by a panel led by Justice Biobele A. Georgewill, declaring Mr. Akobundu of the PDP as the winner and asserting that Mr. Nwokocha was not eligible to contest the elections.
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Mr. Ciroma Ahmed also drew attention to a related case, wherein Ginger Onwusibe of the Labour Party was affirmed as the representative for the Isi-ala Ngwa North/South federal constituency of Abia by the same Justice Georgewill-led panel. Onwusibe’s victory was challenged by Anthony Agbazuere of the PDP, who took the matter to the appellate court.
The coalition’s statement highlighted several factors of concern, including the frequent changes and reconstitution of the appeal panel in the case before Justice Georgewill was appointed to lead the panel.
In light of these developments, the Coalition for Social Justice and Good Governance has put forward the following demands:
The President of the Court of Appeal should promptly establish a judicial review panel to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the conflicting judgments.
This call for a review underscores the significance of the Abia Central senatorial seat dispute and the need for a transparent and impartial assessment of the legal proceedings.
The outcome of this review process will likely have far-reaching consequences on the representation of the Abia Central senatorial district and, by extension, the broader political landscape in the region. The coalition’s request is now awaiting the response and action of the judiciary, as stakeholders closely monitor the developments in this high-stakes legal battle.