Expert opens up on why Soludo may lose Anambra mandate

A human rights lawyer, Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba has said former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo may lose his mandate at the election tribunal due to some discrepancies in the INEC form he filled before the election.

Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba, said the possibility exists because of a serious error which Soludo made while filling out his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) forms prior to the election.

In filling his forms, Soludo, candidate of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had indicated that he was running for the office of Governor of Aguata II-Anambra instead of that of Governor of Anambra State.

READ ALSO: INEC presents Certificates of Return to Gov-elect Soludo, deputy Friday

Ekejiuba, who is President of Anambra State Association of Registered Voters (ASARVOTE), said in his legal opinion, Prof. Soludo’s election form scandal is not a technical issue of law but substantial issue of law jurisprudentially speaking on this point alone:

“In filling the form, Prof. Soludo failed to know the law that Anambra State is the legal term for Constituency for a person contesting for office of Governor of a state. He unknowingly filled in as if what he was asked was his Constituency of origin which is Aguata II Constituency.

“The legal implication of what he filled in the document (form) is that he has filled that he is contesting for Governor of Aguata II-Anambra which under the Constitution does not exist. This is a substantial issue for determination by a court, certainly it is not a technical issue.”

READ ALSO: The victory of Charles Soludo in Anambra: My initial thoughts

 On the authenticity of the forms, Ekejiuba said: “The document (election form) is a Certified True Copy (C.T.C) posted by a pro-Soludo supporter. It is an authentic form from INEC.

“The form for an election for office of Governor of a state is the root of the title for the contest of the election for office of Governor of a state. The relevance attached to it by law is clear. See Supreme Court voided election of APC governor-elect’s mandate for Bayelsa State because of wrong name of his Deputy Governor-elect now enjoyed by second runners up Gov. Diri of PDP.”

He further said: “My submissions are not based on the above case for judgment on November 30, 2021 disqualification under Section 31 of the Electoral Act, but on any possible challenge of Soludo’s victory at the Election Tribunal on the grounds, not on qualification, but that APGA has no candidate through filling and submission of election form for election to office of Governor of Anambra State.

“Although the above case will throw more light on the imbroglio, to me it is a matter for an Election Tribunal not on qualification, but on APGA not having a Candidate for the election.”