-Supreme Court annulled the senatorial election of Akobundo-led faction -The Oguebego-led faction had earlier lost in the appeal court before proceeding to the apex court -The new senators are expected to be sworn in soon

Reports have emerged that the decision of
the Supreme Court to sack Senators Stella
Oduah and Andy Ubah representing
Anambra central and Anambra south
respectively was based on an appeal by a
faction of the PDP in Anambra State led by
Ejike Oguebego, Premium Times reports.
The two senators who ran on the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were
earlier declared winner by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the
senatorial election last year but the Supreme
Court annulled their election in a ruling
delivered on Friday, January 29.
The court ordered that Chris Ubah from
Anambra South and Annie Okonkwo from
Anambra Central should replace the ousted
senators. Uche Ekwunife, the third senator
from the state also from the PDP had earlier
been removed by the court of appeal. PDP
members of House of Representatives from
Anambra state were also sacked.
Oguebego’s case for recognition as the
authentic executive of the party in the state
and the right organ to conduct primary
election prior to the 2015 election was set
aside by the Court of Appeal early last year.
A Federal High Court, in Abuja, presided by
Justice Evoh Chukwu, had in an earlier
judgment affirmed Mr. Oguebego’s
leadership of the party. However, the appeal
court had set aside the judgment of the
Federal High Court and recognized the PDP
faction led by Augustine Akobundo and INEC
thereby accepting the nomination of Oduah,
Ubah and Ekwunife.
Both factions had separate primaries but
INEC duly accepted the nomination
recognized by the appeal court and the
national secretariat of the PDP.
Chuks Chinwoba, one of the counsels of the
Oguebego faction said in spite of the appeal
court’s decision, they still went ahead to
conduct primary elections which was
monitored and reported by INEC.
The Supreme Court also re-affirmed the
chairmanship of Oguebego as the authentic
state chairman of the PDP in Anambra state
which automatically nullified the list of
candidates for various elective positions
submitted by the other faction.
The Senate president, Bukjola Saraki and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara are expected to swear in the
members nominated by the Oguebego
faction of the PDP in Anambra state
following the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Odua has reacted to the verdict
of the apex court that her sack rumors were
“mere interpretations” of the Supreme
Court’s rulings.