Supreme Court stops PDP campaign in Anambra

The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party from starting Tony Nwoye’s campaign for the Anambra State governorship election.

The apex court gave the order in a ruling after an extended hearing, which lasted beyond 6pm.

PDP was ordered to refrain from going ahead to begin Nwoye’s campaign pending the determination of an appeal filed by a rival governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu.

Ukachukwu’s appeal is to be heard on Monday.

As a result of the development, it is expected that the campaign, expected to be led by Vice President Namadi Sambo, will no longer hold on Saturday.

Counsel for the respondents in the matter gave assurances that their clients would abide by the apex court’s ruling.

Ukachukwu’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had expressed his concerns that PDP was planning to commence campaign and hand over the party’s flag to Nwoye as its candidate.

Earlier, the apex court had dismissed an application by another claimant to the party’s ticket, Dr. Andy Ubah, to be joined in the appeal brought by Ukachukwu.

The panel of Justices of the Supreme Court held that since Ubah already had an appeal pending before the court, his application amounted to an abuse of court process.

Punch