PDP chieftain asks court to disqualify Stella Oduah for perjury

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Chief John Emeka, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and senatorial aspirant has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, against Senator Stella Oduah, who represents Anambra North in the Senate.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/841/22 was filed by Mbanefo Ikwegbue, on behalf of the plaintiff, Mrs Oduah was sued alongside the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectfully.

Plaintiff alleged that on October 23, 2014, Oduah allegedly committed perjury by making an affidavit on oath that she lost the original copy of her National Youth Service Corps NYSC discharge certificate when indeed, she possessed none.

He further claimed that the Senator committed another perjury in INEC Form CF001 in 2015 and 2019 wherein she allegedly used false information to obtain nominations for the 2015 and 2019 senatorial elections, Daily Independent reports.

The PDP Chieftain relied on a letter of May 24, 2022, by the Director General of the NYSC to the effect that Mrs Oduah did not complete a mandatory one-year service with the Corps and was not issued with a discharge certificate or letter of exemption.

Consequently, Plaintiff wants an order of court restraining Oduah from presenting herself forward as Senatorial candidate of PDP in the 2023 general election.

He is also praying the court to stop PDP from submitting the name of Oduah as its a candidate for the Anambra North senatorial election.

In addition, Chief Emeka is seeking an order prohibiting INEC from accepting Mrs Oduah from PDP and also from according her any right or privilege as a candidate in next year’s election.
More so, the plaintiff claimed that the Senator breached sections 2 and 12 of the NYSC Act, and therefore prayed for an order nullifying her nomination as PDP candidate for the 2023 senatorial election for Anambra North.

By the suit, the plaintiff wants the court to compel PDP and INEC to submit his name as the candidate for the senatorial election having come second in the primary election that produced Oduah as a successful candidate.

Although the plaintiff sought to move the application ex parte, however the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo declined, but rather ordered the plaintiff to put all parties in the suit on notice.

Justice Ekwo has fixed June 23 for the hearing of the suit.