By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has upheld the election of Professor Paul Sunday Nnamchi of the Labour Party as the member representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency in the Federal H3áďouse of Representatives.
The Enugu National Assembly Tribunal had erroneously upturned the election of Professor Nnamchi on the grounds that he was not properly nominated by his party and that he also did not properly resign his appointment with his employer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) following a petition filed against him by the PDP party candidate Prince Cornelius Nnaji.
Professor Nnamchi in reacting to the Appeal Court’s affirmation of his victory said “justice has prevailed and God Almighty has made it possible.
He praised the panel of justices for their uprightness adding that the judgement had proved that all hope was not lost yet in the country’s judiciary
Also reacting to the judgement, the Local Government Chairman of Labour Party in Isi Uzo, Barrister Emeka Ogene described the judgement as a landmark victory for his party and the people of Enugu East Isi Uzo Federal Constituency.
He observed that despite the unfortunate earlier judgement of the Enugu National Assembly Tribunal, the Labour Party lawmaker remained focused by churning out motions and a bill in just few months in the green chambers.
The party stalwart further stressed that with the judgement, the coast was now set for the people of Enugu East/ Isi Uzo Federal Constituency to begin to enjoy robust representations at the National Assembly for the first time since the com men cent of this democratic dispensation.
Another chieftain of the party in Isi Uzo, Chief Emma Odo equally declared that, “the judgement of the Appeal Court was a huge relief to all of us in the Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency even though it was expected because the facts were very clear”.
” Our people know the candidate they voted for so the news of the Victory has elicited wild celebrations across the party faithfuls and electorate in the entire length and breath of Isi Uzo Local Government” He further stated adding that his ward, Ikem Ward One will hold proper celebration of the victory Saturday during its monthly meeting.
The Enugu National Assembly Tribunal had sacked Honourable Nnamchi for allegedly not resigning his appointment with the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) in line with the alleged institution’s 1976 condition of service which prescribes six months’ notice of resignation as against the 2022 electoral act and the 1999 constitution. Although, the university approved his resignation accordingly.
The Labour Party had appealed the judgement which it described as grave miscarriage of justice stressing that the Tribunal went outside its brief and delved into a pre-election matter just to impose the Peoples Democratiic Party (PDP) candidate, Prince Cornelius Nnaji against the will of the people
The party also observed that the Tribunal absurdly chose the UNN hand book above the Electoral Act and 1999 constitution which prescribed one month’s notice of disengagement before election to arrive at its precarious judgement. The appeal court reinforced constitution cannot be supplanted by any other law.
