Paul Osuyi, Asaba and Judex Okoro, Calabar
THE Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Delta, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, in Asaba, the state capital, said his office is not aware of any court judgment nullifying the nomination of the former governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, as the Delta South senatorial district candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The re-scheduled National Assembly election is slated for Saturday, February 23.
A Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the APC primary election for Delta South; over non-conformity with relevant sections of the Electoral Act (2010), as amended, and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary, to be monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Few days to the election, however, the REC told newsmen, yesterday, that he is not aware of the court judgment, and that his office in Asaba does not handle such legal issues.
“In Asaba, we don’t actually handle most of those judgements, it is actually done in Abuja. I am particularly aware of one in Warri area where the judgment was in ten wards that now became twelve wards, and it wanted us to revert back to ten wards. This information came last week, and it was not the best time to address it. So, we were able to postpone it till after the election for discussion.
“In terms of the number of court judgments, I have never taken the time to start counting them. I am aware of the judgment for Ethiope West but I will not talk on it until I get something from the Commission, in terms of a formal letter telling us what it is,” Omorogbe said.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, yesterday, refused an oral application by the faction of the APC in Cross River State for a stay of execution of a Federal High Court judgment recognising the Mr. John Etin-led state executive committee of the party.
The Appeal Court, in suit Number: CA/C/65M/2019, presided over by Justice M.A. Owoade, ordered all parties to maintain statusquo, pending the determination of the appeal filed by that faction of the party led by Sir John Ochala against the judgment of the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court 2, presided over by Justice S. A. Amobeda, had, on February 11, given judgment in the suit with number FHC/CA/CS/73/2018, in which the court recognised the Etim John led leadership of the party as the authentic leadership of the party in the state. Parties interested/ applicants in the appeal are Senator Owan Enoh, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), and Dr. Bassey Etim Nakanda.