Appeal Court declares Umeh as valid candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District

The Court of Appeal, Awka Division has declared Senator Victor Umeh as the validly nominated candidate of the Labour Party for the Anambra Central Senatorial District, overruling Uche Ekwunife of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This comes after Ekwunife had secured a judgement from the Federal High Court, sacking Umeh as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Umeh challenged the judgement and approached the Appeal Court, which declared him as the rightful candidate. The court held that the suit which supposedly disqualified Umeh at the Federal High Court in Awka was statute barred and lacked locus. The judgement was delivered by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole via Zoom and allowed the two appeals by the Labour Party and Senator Umeh to stand.

The Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, Mr Surajo Gusau, confirmed the judgement to the press. This puts an end to a weeklong campaign by opponents of Umeh, who had insisted that he had been disqualified from the race.

Senator Victor Umeh is a major contender for the senatorial position in Anambra Central Senatorial District. However, Chief Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, counsel for Uche Ekwunife has said that he will appeal the judgement.