The supreme court has declined to interpret a judgment it gave on January
29 involving the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Anambra state.
The court held that the judgment had nothing to do with the status of
Stella Oduah, Andy Uba and other lawmakers elected on the platform of the
PDP in Anambra state as federal lawmakers.
The court held that it did not have the jurisdiction to review any
judgment it had given. ”The judgement of this court is final as
reflected in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria (as
amended),” it stated.
“On the whole I hold the view that this court has no jurisdiction to
entertain this motion from Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC). This matter is hereby stuck out.”
INEC had filed a case at the apex court seeking clarification of
the January 29 ruling of the court, which reinstated Ejike Oguebego as the
chairman of PDP Anambra state chapter.
The court explained that it only dispensed with the case of
leadership of the PDP in Anambra state, and not matters regarding the
lawmakers’ seats.
It stated the issue of primary election as regards the emergence of the
lawmakers as candidates of the PDP for the national assembly election was
not included in the appeal that came before it.
The supreme court pointed out that it had ruled on many occasions that
only the national executive of a party could send a list of candidates to
INEC for an election, and that since the electoral body admitted that it
was the national executive of the PDP that nominated the lawmakers, and
not a caretaker committee, there was no contest in the matter