Why Supreme Court sacked Stella Oduah, others

– Supreme Court annulled the senatorial
election of Akobundo-led faction
– The Oguebego-led faction had earlier lost in
the appeal court before proceeding to the
apex court
– The new senators are expected to be
sworn in soon
Reports have emerged that the decision of
the Supreme Court to sack Senators Stella
Oduah and Andy Ubah representing Anambra
central and Anambra south respectively was
based on an appeal by a faction of the PDP
in Anambra State led by Ejike Oguebego,
Premium Times reports.
The two senators who ran on the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were
earlier declared winner by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the
senatorial election last year but the Supreme
Court annulled their election in a ruling
delivered on Friday, January 29

The court ordered that Chris Ubah from
Anambra South and Annie Okonkwo from
Anambra Central should replace the ousted
senators. Uche Ekwunife, the third senator
from the state also from the PDP had earlier
been removed by the court of appeal. PDP
members of House of Representatives from
Anambra state were also sacked.
Oguebego’s case for recognition as the
authentic executive of the party in the state
and the right organ to conduct primary
election prior to the 2015 election was set
aside by the Court of Appeal early last year.
A Federal High Court, in Abuja, presided by
Justice Evoh Chukwu, had in an earlier
judgment affirmed Mr. Oguebego’s leadership
of the party. However, the appeal court had
set aside the judgment of the Federal High
Court and recognized the PDP faction led by
Augustine Akobundo and INEC thereby
accepting the nomination of Oduah, Ubah and
Ekwunife.
Both factions had separate primaries but
INEC duly accepted the nomination
recognized by the appeal court and the
national secretariat of the PDP.
Chuks Chinwoba, one of the counsels of the
Oguebego faction said in spite of the appeal
court’s decision, they still went ahead to
conduct primary elections which was
monitored and reported by INEC.
The Supreme Court also re-affirmed the
chairmanship of Oguebego as the authentic
state chairman of the PDP in Anambra state
which automatically nullified the list of
candidates for various elective positions
submitted by the other faction

The Senate president, Bukjola Saraki and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara are expected to swear in the
members nominated by the Oguebego faction
of the PDP in Anambra state following the
ruling of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Odua has reacted to the verdict
of the apex court that her sack rumors were
“mere interpretations” of the Supreme Court’s
rulings.
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