The Court of Appeal in Calabar, Cross River State, has declared Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the duly elected senator for Cross River North.
The court declared Jarigbe the lawful candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the December 5, 2020, by-election for the seat on Friday.
A three-man appeal tribunal, headed by Justice Chioma I. Nwosu, also invalidated the certificate of return earlier issued to Steven Odey by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, directing the commission to withdraw the certificate.
It was reported that on February 25, 2021, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Odey challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The majority judgment upheld the preliminary objections raised by Jarigbe challenging the mode of service of the notice of appeal.
Also, on December 29, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, ruled in favour of Jarigbe.
Jarigbe was declared the duly nominated candidate of the PDP and the rightful winner of the December 5, 2020 election.
The court ordered the INEC to issue Jarigbe a Certificate of Return and withdraw the one earlier issued to Odey.
In March this year, following the apex court’s judgment, Senate President Ahmed Lawan failed to allow Jarigbe to take his oath as a Senator-elect or provide a reason.
Jarigbe, a member of the House of Representatives, had before expressed confidence that the Senate President would obey the law.
More to follow…
