ENUGU EAST SENATE SEAT: A’Court dismisses Sen Nnaji’s suit against ex-Gov Nnamani

A former Senator representing Enugu East senatorial zone, Gilbert Nnaji has lost his bid to return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

The Enugu Division of the Appeal Court on Friday dismissed a case filed Nnaji challenging Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) for Enugu East.

Nnaji had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu asking that he be declared the rightful candidate of the PDP on the grounds that Nnamani was not allegedly present for the party’s screening before the primary elections.

The Federal High Court, in its judgement on April 5, agreed with Nnamani and the PDP that the suit was statute barred and consequently struck it out.

Unsatisfied, Nnaji headed to the Appeal Court with three grounds of Appeal.

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But the Appellate Court in a unanimous decision dismissed the case for lacking in merit.

The court held that the suit was filed outside the 14-day period allowed by law, as the date of occurrence of event was 15th of September while the suit was filed on 8th of October, 2018.

Justice C.E Iyizoba who read the judgement said, “the inevitable conclusion is that the Appeal lacks merit, proof, is speculative and is hereby dismissed.

“Nnaji defaulted in his undertaking to abide by the decision of the party before the primary election. He cannot rescind from his decision.

“Having resolved all the three issues for determination in favour of the respondents, I hold that this application is lacking in merit and is hereby dismissed,” the Court held.

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