Supreme Court sacks PDP's candidates in Imo West, East Senatorial Districts

• Published date: 13 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Supreme Court has sacked the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo West and East Senatorial Districts of the state.

In two judgments on Friday, a five-member panel of the court held that the primaries from which the candidates emerged were unlawfully held outside the Senatorial Districts.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the judgments, held that the PDP violated the provision of the Electoral Act which provides that legislative primary elections must be held in the senatorial district or the headquarters of the constituency concerned.

Justice Agim faulted the contention by the party that the decision to hold the primary in Owerri was agreed to by majority of its members, who expressed concern about security.

The judge held that it was unlawful for majority of the members of the party to agree to violate the provision of a statute.

'You cannot agree to violate or act against the provision of statute. That is against the principle of rule of...