The screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) has disqualified Valentine Ozigbo from contesting the 2023 senatorial
seat on its platform.
Ozigbo, who was the candidate of the PDP in the 2021 Anambra
governorship election, was seeking to contest the state’s south senatorial
district election in 2023.
The screening panel also disqualified two other hopefuls —
Chuma Nzeribe and Obinna Uzor.
According to a report by the five-member screening committee
chaired by Victor Okorie, Ozigbo was disqualified because he submitted his
expression of interest and nomination forms after the deadline set by the
party.
“Ozigbo told the
committee that he was awaiting the Supreme Court Judgment in SC/CV/240/2022 and
SC /CV/241/2022, that if the Supreme Court annuls the election he would become
the Governor,” the report reads.
“On that basis, he concluded that there would be no need to
submit the Senatorial form within the specified time, on April 27, the Supreme
Court upheld the contemplated litigation. Unfortunately, by the time he
submitted the Form, he was already out of time,” it stated.
Nzeribe was barred by the panel on the premise that he had
been declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Hon. Chuman Nzeribe
was admitted to bail, after he pleaded not guilty to the charges on 16th
December 2020, he subsequently breached the bail terms and jumped bail,” the
report said.
“This necessitated the Court on 21 March 2022 to make the
Orders under reference, to wit: “that the bail of the accused person (Hon.
Chuma Nzeribe) has been abused and breached as it related to the conditions.
“The said bail being contractual between the court and the
accused person having been breached, is hereby revoked, Bench Warrant is hereby
issued against the said Hon. Chuma Nzeribe for his arrest.
“The above orders showed that the Hon. Nzeribe Chukwumaeze
Marcellinus is a wanted fellow, against whom a Bench Warrant has been issued,
for his arrest.”
Uzoh, on the other hand, was ruled ineligible to run for the
seat because he lied to the committee.
“In column 12 of the nomination form, the question was asked
if he had ever been tried by any court of law and he answered in the negative,
suggesting that he had never been tried by any court of law,” the committee’s
report said about Uzoh.
“We have in our possession, a charge before the Federal High
Court Abuja, in charge No, FHC/ABJ/CR/78/2020, between FRN v. Eziafa Samuel
Enwedo & Obinna Uzoh.
“The above shows that the aspirant deliberately failed to
disclose the facts of this charge, his arraignment and trial. He was asked if
he had been indicted by a Court or Tribunal. He answered in the negative, but
the facts available show that he was admitted to bail on July 7 July 2020 by
Hon. Justice O.E Abang.”
Chris Ubah, Ezebiakwa Peace, Tony Nwoye, John Emeka, Uche
Ekwunife and Stella Oduah were cleared to contest the senatorial seats in
Anambra.
About 49 hopefuls for the House of Representatives seats
were vetted and cleared by the committee.
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