Why Supreme Court sacked Stella Oduah, others

– Supreme Court annulled the senatorial election of Akobundo-led faction

– The Oguebego-led faction had earlier lost in the appeal court before proceeding to the apex court

– The new senators are expected to be sworn in soon

Reports have emerged that the decision of the Supreme Court to sack Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Ubah representing Anambra central and Anambra south respectively was based on an appeal by a faction of the PDP in Anambra State led by Ejike Oguebego, Premium Times reports.

The two senators who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were earlier declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the senatorial election last year but the Supreme Court annulled their election in a ruling delivered on Friday, January 29.

The court ordered that Chris Ubah from Anambra South and Annie Okonkwo from Anambra Central should replace the ousted senators. Uche Ekwunife, the third senator from the state also from the PDP had earlier been removed by the court of appeal. PDP members of House of Representatives from Anambra state were also sacked.

Oguebego’s case for recognition as the authentic executive of the party in the state and the right organ to conduct primary election prior to the 2015 election was set aside by the Court of Appeal early last year.

A Federal High Court, in Abuja, presided by Justice Evoh Chukwu, had in an earlier judgment affirmed Mr. Oguebego’s leadership of the party. However, the appeal court had set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and recognized the PDP faction led by Augustine Akobundo and INEC thereby accepting the nomination of Oduah, Ubah and Ekwunife.

Both factions had separate primaries but INEC duly accepted the nomination recognized by the appeal court and the national secretariat of the PDP.

Chuks Chinwoba, one of the counsels of the Oguebego faction said in spite of the appeal court’s decision, they still went ahead to conduct primary elections which was monitored and reported by INEC.

The Supreme Court also re-affirmed the chairmanship of Oguebego as the authentic state chairman of the PDP in Anambra state which automatically nullified the list of candidates for various elective positions submitted by the other faction.

The Senate president, Bukjola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara are expected to swear in the members nominated by the Oguebego faction of the PDP in Anambra state following the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Odua has reacted to the verdict of the apex court that her sack rumors were “mere interpretations” of the Supreme Court’s rulings.