Court postpones ruling on Osigbo’s Suit challenging Ukachukwu’s Nomination.

Court postpones ruling on Osigbo’s Suit challenging Ukachukwu’s nomination until July 23

The Federal High Court in Awka has scheduled July 23, 2025, for its ruling in the case filed by Chief Valentine Ozigbo, who lost the governorship ticket for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party’s primary election in April. The third interim report concerning the lawsuit initiated by Ozigbo against the APC and two others has paved the way for a final judgment on July 23, 2025.

During the closing arguments presented to the court on June 18, 2025, regarding the pre-election case filed by Chief Ozigbo against the APC and its chosen candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (also known as Ikukuoma, Wind of Glory), for the upcoming November 8, 2025, off-cycle gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Ozigbo unexpectedly acknowledged that Ukachukwu’s nomination adhered to proper procedures.

Ozigbo had previously asserted that Ukachukwu was not qualified to participate in the primary election, which he ultimately won by a significant margin.

The defeated candidate, who finished in a distant second place during the primary election, maintained that Prince Ukachukwu had not been a member of the APC for three months prior to the primary election.

In their counter affidavits, which included relevant facts and documentary evidence along with clear legal arguments in their written submissions from all three defendants, Ozigbo appeared to give in, as he was visibly shaken, confused, and at a loss for words.

As a result, he dramatically altered the focus of his case and deviated from his original argument, stating that he was no longer disputing Ukachukwu’s membership in the APC, but rather the timing of his membership. This additional line of reasoning effectively undermined the validity of the already weak pre-election case, which was doomed from the start given the numerous Supreme Court rulings on political party membership, particularly the landmark decision in Onuora Vs Okafor as seen in more recent cases like Ahiwe Vs Otti.

In a further effort to revive his seemingly lifeless case, Ozigbo was permitted to present two audio/video recordings in open court and chose to take the witness stand to undergo cross-examination by the senior counsels for the first and second defendants.

Source:Tvc News