Shocked: Appeal Court Sacks Anambra L.G Boss few months to end of tenure

www.odogwublog.com reports that an appeal court sitting in Enugu has declared Rtd. Col. Bude Nnakee Okafor as the rightful candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and winner of Njikoka Local Government Chairmanship seat held on 11 January, 2014.
Col. Bude contested the APGA LG primary election along with the incumbent Chairman of the council, Hon. Emeka Onuora, who was announced winner by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).

Delivering the Judgment on the appeal no. CA/E/640/2014, brought before it by Col. Bude Nnakee Okafor challenging the ANSIEC declaration of Emeka Onuorah as the candidate of APGA at the poll, three man panel led by Justice Rita Nosakahare set aside the judgment of Hon. Justice H.O. Ozor in suit no. A/9/2014, delivered on the 8th October 2014 at the High Court Awka.

It would be recalled that the appellant, Col. Okafor had dragged the respondents, namely Tony Nwazojie, APGA, Chief Emeka Onuora, and ANSIEC before the Awka High Court headed by Hon. Justice H.O Ozor.

However, on 8th October, 2014, the High Court at Awka dismissed the petition, and upheld the election of Emeka Onuorah as the party flag-bearer at the LG poll.
Not satisfied with the judgment, Col. Okafor headed to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Judicial Division through his counsels, E.O. Ezeugo Esq. with Izuu Uneike Esq. to seek redress.

The appeal court further declared the Appellant Col. Bude Nnakee Okafor as the winner of the Chairmanship seat as APGA candidate under APGA of the Njikoka Local Government Election held on 11th January, 2014 having satisfied the provisions of Section 87 (5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), and section 141 of the electoral Act 2010 (as amended), and Article 24 (6) of the APGA constitution.

The court also ordered the sum of N50,000 cost in favour of the appellant.
Reacting to the judgment, Col. Okafor described the judgment as a landmark one that will stand the test of time adding that it will enable others to know that there is still justice in Nigeria.

“This is a landmark judgment. The judges did justice. They saw everything and they came out openly to criticize and condemn the judgment of Justice H.O. Ozor and then gave the real verdict.
“I have gotten the judgment. I have gotten the court order and I have served it to the appropriate authorities, just waiting for them to call me so that I can be sworn-in.”

However, in a telephone interview, the embattled Chairman of the council, Hon. Emeka Onuora says that he is still the chairman, because court has not invalidated his mandate, even as he stressed that he will challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.