The Supreme Court has declared Chief Ifeanyi Odii the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Ebonyi state for the 2023 election.
The court’s decision was declared on Wednesday, and the court also struck out the judgment of the Appeal Court of 19 July, where Senator Obinna Ogba was declared the governorship candidate.
The lead judgment by Justice Lawal Garba noted that Senator Ogba did not have a right of appeal because he was not a part of the suit when the matter came up at the trial court in Abakiliki and was not given leave to do so as such, depriving the Appellate Court of jurisdiction.
Mr. Ifeanyi Odii was elected the party’s governorship candidate during a canceled primary held between May 28th and 29th, 2022.
At the rescheduled primaries held on June 4 and 5, 2022, Senator Ogba won. Odii approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, which upturned Ogba’s candidature, and necessitated Ogba’s approaching the Court of Appeal.
Wednesday’s judgment, therefore, makes Mr. Ifeanyi Odii the authentic candidate of the PDP for the Ebonyi state Governorship polls.
While reacting to the Supreme Court Judgement, Mr. Odii described it as a victory for the people of Ebonyi state.
He called on his supporters and the entire party in the state to come together and work for the party’s victory in the general elections.
S.O
