PDP Chieftain prays court to declare Oduah unfit as senatorial candidate

A PDP Chieftain, Chief John Emeka, on Thursday prayed a Federal High Court, Abuja to declare that Sen. Stella Oduah is unqualified to contest in the Anambra North Senatorial District seat for the 2023 general elections.

Oduah contested and won the party's May 27 primary election for Anambra North Senatorial seat.

Emeka, in an originating summons, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that Oduah, in the information she supplied in an affidavit of facts she deposed to on Oct. 23, 2014, as to the loss of her original copy of her NYSC Certificate which she incorporated in her INEC Form CF001 for the said primary, was untrue.

The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/841/2022 dated and filed June 8, was brought by his lawyer, Mbanefo Ikwegbue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Emeka also names the is PDP and INEC as defendants.

NAN reports that Oduah currently represents Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

Emeka, who was also an aspirant in the primary election, prayed the court for an order, nullifying the lawmaker's participation in the poll.

He also sought for an order directing the INEC not to recognise the lawmaker as the party's candidate for the 2023 election.

He further prayed the court for an order, declaring him as the PDP candidate for the Anambra North Senatorial District's seat for the 2023 poll, having participated in the May 27 election.

Emeka, in the application, alleged that Oduah lied on oath in both her expression of interest and nomination forms, including the INEC Form CFO01.

When the matter was called on Thursday, Emeka's counsel, Ikwegbue, told Justice Ekwo that Oduah allegedly refused to collect court documents when the bailiff made an attempt to serve her.

But lawyer to Oduah, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, disagreed with Ikwegbue.

Ikpeazu described the submission as a misconception.

Ikpeazu was consequently served with the documents in the open court following the judge's directive.

"I am putting this matter for hearing in the next adjourned date.

"There is sufficient time for all the parties to file their processes," Ekwo said.

The judge, who adjourned the matter until Sept. 26 for hearing, ordered that hearing notices be issued to parties in the suit.