BREAKING: Imo North Bye-election: Appeal Court Affirms Disqualification Of Ibezim

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the judgement of a trial court which had disqualified Chukwuma (Francis) Ibezim as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 Imo North bye-election won by the party.

Justice Stephen Adah read the judgement on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared APC as winner of the bye-election, but refused to return a candidate for the party’s victory over conflicting court orders for and against the two APC candidates vying for the position: Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Frank Ibezim.

Ibezim had appealed his disqualification against the following respondents: Asomugha Elebeke, All Progressive Congress, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

Recall that the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo had on December 4, disqualified Ibezim as the APC Candidate for the December 5 Imo North Bye-election over problems with the WAEC certificate he tendered before INEC.

The judge had said, among other things, that Ibezim tendered inconsistent names (in his documents) to both INEC and APC.

“Now that I have found that the information contained in the affidavit and other documents submitted by the 1st defendant to the 2nd and 3rd defendants is false, I enter judgment as follows:

“A declaration is hereby made that the 1st defendant is not qualified/eligible for nomination to contest Imo North Senatorial bye-election having made false statements/declarations in the affidavit and documents he submitted to the 3rd defendant for the purpose of contesting Imo North senatorial bye-election,” he said.

But Ibezim approached the Appeal Court to determine whether the lower court was in error to have described his certificate as false without proving it beyond reasonable doubt.

He also told the court that the trial judge gave the verdict outside jurisdiction, adding that it was also out of time (statute bar).

But in his judgement, Justice Adah agreed with the trial judge that Ibezim’s certificate was false.

“Qualification of a candidate is a cardinal requirement for election into the National Assembly.

“The lower court did a credible evaluation on the results of the appellant.

“This issue is hereby resolved against the appellant.

“Arrangement of names is a crucial matter.

“We’ve not seen any reason to interfere in the judgement of the trial court. This appeal is lacking in merit and accordingly dismissed and the judgement of the lower court is hereby affirmed,” he said.

The judge warned everyone to learn to put their names accurately on their respective certificates.

Also, all the lawyers earlier agreed with the Appeal Court judge that today’s judgement stands alone.