Appeal Court overrules Ekwunife, declares Umeh as LP senatorial candidate

The Court of Appeal, Awka Division has overruled the senatorial candidacy of Uche Ekwunife, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, insisting that Senator Victor Umeh is the validly nominated candidate of the Labour Party for the zone.

Ekwunife had secured a judgement from the Federal High Court, sacking Umeh as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Umeh had, however, approached the Appeal Court, where the court declared him winner.

The court in its judgement which was delivered on Thursday morning held that the suit which supposedly disqualified Umeh at the Federal High Court, Awka was statute barred and lacked locus.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, who read the judgement via zoom allowed the two appeals by the Labour Party and Senator Umeh to stand.

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Mr Surajo Gusau, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court confirmed the judgement to our correspondent.

The judgment puts paid to a weeklong campaign by opponents of Umeh, who insisted that he had been disqualified from the race.

Umeh is a major contender for the senatorial position, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, reacting to the judgment, Chief Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, counsel for Ekwunife said he will appeal the judgment.