Enugu North SDP senatorial candidate reclaims mandate

The Federal High Court Enugu, under Justice, M G Umar has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to list the name of Barrister Gideon Okay Agbo as the Senatorial Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Enugu North.

The order followed a suit filed by the candidate challenging the exclusion of his name on INEC’s list of candidates for the 2023 general election as released in October 2022.

In his ruling, the Judge declared that “the Defendant (INEC) does not possess any lawful authority to exclude the 1st plaintiff as the 2nd plaintiff’s candidate for the senatorial election of Enugu North senatorial district in Enugu State, the 1st plaintiff having been validly nominated by the 2nd plaintiff.

“That the exclusion of the 1st plaintiff as the 2nd plaintiff’s candidate for the senatorial election of Enugu north senatorial district in Enugu State is unconstitutional, unlawful, wrongful, null and void.”

Speaking after the judgment, Agbo said it was a victory for the people of Enugu north who have suffered leadership failure over the years.

“We have to create alternatives for ourselves and do away with the leadership that has failed.

“Party at this juncture is immaterial but the personality, integrity, and capacity of the individual to comprehend social, economic, and democratic governance of the 21st century.

“That you can find in a young, vibrant lawyer and public policy analyst like me, ” he said.