The Lagos State Court of Appeal has reached a major decision, nullifying Denis Agbo’s election as a member of the Labour Party (LP) in the recent general elections. Denis Agbo represented Enugu State’s Udenu/Igboeze North federal constituency. The court has ordered a new election to be held within 90 days of its verdict.
This legal twist stems from Dr. Oby Ajih’s appeal as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the disputed election. Dr. Ajih contested the electoral tribunal’s decision to declare the election null and void because the APC logo was missing from the EC8A form, which was a critical criterion for the electoral process to be regarded legal.
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In a recent verdict given by Zoom on a Friday, the Court of Appeal found Dr. Ajih’s appeal to be meritorious and overturned the tribunal’s decision. The appeal court’s decision, which took less than 30 minutes to deliver, resolved the dispute.
The crux of the issue was the absence of the APC emblem on the result sheet, or form EC8A, which was deemed to be a violation of the electoral act by Dr. Oby Ajih. The court agreed with her, underlining that the deletion of the party’s logo on the result sheet violated the electoral act and constituted a serious breach warranting the nullification of the election result.
As a result of this legal action, all parties concerned in the electoral dispute must prepare for a new election, which must be held in accordance with correct electoral procedures and in full compliance with the electoral statute. This Court of Appeal ruling establishes a major precedent in ensuring that electoral processes follow to legal standards and that every citizen’s vote counts in a transparent and responsible manner.
The verdict is expected to have a broader impact on Nigerian electoral proceedings and adherence to the electoral act, underlining the importance of due process and conformity with legal standards to promote free, fair, and legitimate elections. It also emphasizes the need of parties appropriately portraying their candidates with the appropriate insignia and logos, which are critical in sustaining democratic and electoral integrity standards.
