By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja
The Abuja Division of the Court of Apeal, yesterday, declared Lady Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, wife of former Senate President, the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, as authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and winner of the Anambra North Senatorial District in the April 16 National Assembly  poll.

The appellate court further ordered her immediate inauguration into the Senate to enable her  to occupy the Anambra North Senatorial seat that had been vacant in the past six months owing to multiple court actions over who was the candidate of the party for the constituency.

In a unanimous judgment that was delivered by a three-man panel of Justices of the court yesterday, it was held that Okadigbo having polled the highest number of votes in the primary election conducted in the state remains the candidate and winner of the Anambra North Senatorial seat in the National Assembly. Justice M.U. Mukhtar read the judgment yesterday.

The court said it was satisfied with all the documents that were adduced before it by the appellant, Okadigbo, some of which included the primary election result tendered by PDP and INEC, adding that there was sufficient evidence proving that she emerged victorious at the primary election conducted by Senator Joseph Waku Committee on behalf of PDP National Working Committee.

While setting aside the lower court judgment that favoured Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, the appellate court said the Federal High Court in Abuja erred by basing its decision solely on the documents submitted to it by Igbeke and closed its eyes on other documents of the other parties in the case especially the PDP, INEC and Lady Okadigbo.

Specifically, the court after evaluating all documents relating to the case, agreed that Lady Okadigbo polled 168 votes, Senator Igbeke 23 votes and Prince John Emeka 15 votes and therefore declared her winner.