Court of Appeal Upholds Jarigbe’s Candidature ,Sacks Odey as Senator Ogoja North_Ada Nkong

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The Court of Appeal Tribunal this morning in Calabar has declared Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the duly elected senator for Cross River North senatorial election. This Nullifies Stephen Odey  as Senator.

The Court said Jarigbe Agom is the lawful candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the December 5th, 2020 By-election for the seat.

The three man Appeal Tribunal headed by Hon. Justice Chioma I. Nwosu also invalidated the certificate of return earlier issued to Steven Odey by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and directed that it be withdrawn.

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The court ordered as follows as delivered by the presiding Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme(PhD);

1. That the 4th Respondent Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is hereby ordered to issue a Certificate of Return wrongly withdrawn from the 2nd Respondent Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe immediately.
2. That the Certificate of Return issued to the 1st Respondent Stephen Adi Odey illegally, stands withdrawn.
3. That in the premise, there’s no merit in Appeal No CA/C/NAEA/SEN/167/2021 all the issues having been received against the appellants.
4. That, Appeal No No CA/C/NAEA/SEN/167/2021 is accordingly dismissed.
5. That the judgement of the lower tribunal in petition number EPT/CR/SEN/03/2020 delivered on the 18th Day of June 2021, is hereby set aside.
6. That even though the three appeals are considered, Appeal Number No CA/C/NAEA/SEN/168/2021 is hereby dismissed also.
7. That Appeal Number No CA/C/NAEA/SEN/169/2021 is hereby allowed.
8. That i make no order as to cost.

This ends the Cross River North Senatorial by-election litigation.