By Chuks Collins
A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has today, Wednesday July 23,2025 dismissed a case brought against the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu over his nomination as the governorship candidate for the fast approaching November 8,2025 off-season governorship poll, for lacking in merit.
In dismissing the suit, the Court noted that the Supreme Court in previous decided cases had stressed that the decision of membership of political parties was a prerogative of the particular party.
That no one else or court has any jurisdiction to choose for them who their members is.
Reacting to the verdict which he described as sound and commendable, the counsel for APC, Messrs Shedrak Ayo, “..it was a sounds, commendable, and well researched judgement which was a clear interpretation of the law.
“Because when you look at the complaint of the plaintiff (Chief Valentine 0zigbo), you will discover that it fall short of the clear provisions of Sec 285,(14a) and Sec 84(14) of the Electoral Act.
Sec 285(14)a, stated that complaint must arise from the issue of Construction, the Electoral Act and the party guidelines.
But the entire content of the suit fall short of these copious provisions.
Also, Barrister Joseph Mola Mathew standing in for Chief Olushola Oke(SAN) counsel for Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, governorship candidate of the APC for the coming Nov 8,2025 Anambra State governorship election commended the judgement as a clear delivery of justice, noting that the case ab initio had no merit as it was dead on arrival.
According to him, “the position of law is clear, that any issue bothering on the membership of a candidate is domestic affair of the relevant political party. So, to that extent, no court has any jurisdiction in that.
We were actually surprised when we read the process filed by the plaintiff which bothered squarely on membership. It’s therefore not surprising that the court in it’s judgement delivered just now stated the position of law especially the Supreme Court, that no one has jurisdiction to dabble into membership of political parties.
He also noted that it’s a trite law that where the National Working Committee (NWC) of a party has cleared a candidate that no member has the jurisdiction to challenge same.
Barrister Mathew, on the issue of possible appeal that it was the inalienable right of a party in a matter to appeal when not satisfied.
“It’s not unexpected. It’s his right to do so”.
However one of the frontline supporters of the Nicholas Ukachukwu and the national Convener of the very popular Anambra Equity Movement (ANEM), Hon Tony Ezekwelu while praising the judgement, urged party members and supporters of Prince Ukachukwu to be magnanimous in victory, saying that “after all we are members of one APC family”.
Also Mrs Juliet Kasie, a supporter of Chief Ozigbo took the outcome in good faith, stating that life is filled with challenges and would advise bother political leaders to close ranks to face the challenge ahead as one united family so as to triumph.
