By Cajetan Mmuta
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit seeking disqualification of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the governor-elect of Anambra State.

Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo, in a judgment, described the suit as frivolous, irritating, and one lacking in merit.
The judge awarded a punitive cost of N2 million against the two applicants/plaintiffs to be paid to Charles Soludo and his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim respectively.

The Court sitting had on Tuesday adjourned sitting for Wednesday to deliver judgment in the suit that sought disqualification of the governor-elect and deputy governor-elect of Anambra State in the November 6 governorship election, Prof Charles Soludo and Onyeka Ibezim.

The judgment in the suit was initially fixed for Tuesday, November 30, by Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo.

However, the Judge could not sit as scheduled and no reason was given for the shift of the judgment in the suit with the number FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021.

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Plaintiffs in the suit, Adindu Valentine and Egwudike Chukwuebuk had claimed that Soludo provided false information in the affidavit (Form EC9) he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and thus should be deemed unqualified to stand for the election.

The applicants argued that Soludo indicated in the affidavit that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when in fact, he was contesting for the Anambra governorship seat.

Defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo, and Ibezim.