Court Nullifies Uzodimma’s Senate Bid, Abati Says Legal Battle Far From Over

Former presidential aide and Arise Television Morning Show anchor, Dr Reuben Abati, has said the legal battle over Governor Hope Uzodimma’s candidacy for the Imo West Senatorial District election is far from over, following a court judgment nullifying his nomination.

Abati said the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had indicated its intention to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

He made the remarks on Friday during Arise Television’s Morning Show while analysing the controversy surrounding the court ruling.

The former presidential spokesman noted that the state chapter of the APC had questioned the jurisdiction of the court, particularly with regard to Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates a 14-day period for instituting pre-election matters.

According to him, the party argued that former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, who challenged Uzodimma’s candidacy, failed to institute the case within the constitutionally prescribed period.

Abati, however, cautioned against reaching a final conclusion on the matter without carefully examining the details of the judgment.

He explained that the Court of Appeal would have the opportunity to review the legal arguments, including issues bordering on jurisdiction, procedure, timing, technicalities and the admissibility of evidence presented before the lower court.

He said: “So the matter is not ended yet. They will go to the Appeal Court, and then, the Appeal Court will be able to look at the issues either about procedure, about timing, about technicality, about evidence, how evidence was filed, and whether the procedure should have been originating summons or another thing.

“That’s the purpose of an Appeal Court.”

Abati also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the judgment, alluding to what he described as the possibility of a situation involving the “voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau”.

However, he warned against making unsubstantiated allegations about possible external influence on the judiciary.

“Finally on that subject is the fact this is the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau, without putting on the table the implications of that caveat, because I’ve seen some people saying there are questions to be raised about some people having powers over the judiciary. But we cannot speculate in that regard,” he said.

The broadcaster maintained that the legal arguments raised by the APC should be subjected to judicial scrutiny at the appellate level, insisting that the controversy should be resolved through established legal processes rather than speculation.

He added that the Court of Appeal would determine whether the judgment of the lower court could withstand legal scrutiny.