An Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to list Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the Anambra governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The court presided over Justice Obiora Nwabunike in a matter brought before him by Senator Ugochukwu Uba against Mr Valentine Ozigbo, Anambra chapter of PDP and the INEC said Uba’s faction of the party held their primary election in line with the guidelines of the party and should be listed as the governorship candidate.
The party also awarded a cost of N10million against Ozigbo and PDP, to be paid to Uba as cost of litigation.
Nwabunike while delivering his judgment said, “Let me speak to my judgment now in a way that all will understand. When a court makes a pronouncement, it is not for you to come and begin to cite constitution or to tell us that party is supreme. Yes, party is supreme, but the court is supremacy.
“The court is the only person that can say something that is green is now blue, and everyone will be bound to see it as blue. It will only take the court to rescind the decision, or a higher court upturning the decision before you can start seeing that thing as green again.
“So, what I am saying is that there is a court order on this matter that is still alive. It is not for you to come and be citing authorities, but for you to go back to the court and beg it to rescind its decision or you go to a higher court to upturn it.
“That is why it is My Lord that said it. It is only a court that can say a woman is a man, and it will stand. A decision may be wrong against the constitution of the party, it may be against the electoral act, or even against the constitution of the country, but what is important is that My Lord has spoken.
“I salute the parties involved, but I want to say that Senator Ugochukwu Uba has proven his point more clearly. Senator Uba faction having followed the order of the court in holding its primary election is hereby validated as the candidate of the PDP.
“INEC is hereby ordered to list Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the candidate of the PDP, and a cost of N10million awarded against the first and second defendant to the plaintiff as legal fees.”
