Labour Party Drags ANSIEC To Court To Announce Nnewi North Council Poll Result

                       

Fresh conduct of Nnewi North local government council election has been frustrated as the Labour Party (LP) of Nigeria, its chairmanship candidate for the council poll, Lady Ify Gloria Ofordeme, Nnamdi Udeaja and ten others as plaintiffs/applicants Thursday dragged the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Chief Benjamin Uzoka and the Electoral Officer, Nnewi North local government council to Nnewi High Court II presided over by His Lordship the Hon Justice Peace. N. T. Otti.

          

In the Suit No HN/23/2014 and Motion No HN/126m/2014 the plaintiffs represented by Ike Obeta Esq had prayed the court to grant an order restraining the ANSIEC or its agents from holding another chairmanship or councillorship election in Nnewi North local government council since the result of the one held on January 18, 2014 after a previous one on January 11 had not been announced by the electoral body.

          The plaintiffs prayed the court to announce the January 18 election result to declare the winner according to the results collated booth by booth.  Some of the cases the plaintiffs relied on were Jim Nwobodo vs Christian Onoh where the court gave verdict to the winner of the election based on booth by booth results.  They said they had no reason to participate in a fresh election since doing so would, according to them, mean accepting cancellation of January 18 election which the plaintiffs claimed they won as in Martin Agboso vs INEC in Imo State. The Judge adjourned the matter till March 13, 2014 for hearing.

          Present at the court were LP council chairmanship candidate, Lady Ofordeme, ten councillorship candidates and other members of the LP while a lawyer from the Anambra State Ministry of Justice represented the ANSIEC.

          The court gave an order permitting the plaintiffs/applicants to serve the Writ of Summons and other process in the suit on the 2^nd to 3^rd defendants by posting same on a conspicuous position at their last known address at ANSIEC Headquarters, Awka, Anambra State. And an order that such service when effected shall be deemed good and proper service on the 2^nd to 3^rd defendants/respondent.