By Constance Meju
An AbujaHigh Court has thrown out Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as senator-elect for DeltaNorth Senatorial District.
In aruling on a case brought before it by Prince Ned Nwoko challenging the electionof Nwaoboshi by the Peoples Democratic Party as its flag-bearer, Justice A. R.Mohammed ordered Nwaoboshi to stop parading himself as senator-elect and ruled that the PDP and the IndependentNational Electoral Commission, INECshould replace Nwoko’s name as the PDP candidate.
Followingthe outcome of the PDP primaries last August that threw up Nwaoboshi as theparty’s flag-bearer, Prince Ned Nwoko had headed to court challenging thevictory alleging irregularities and urging the court to declare him winner ofthe primaries.
In theruling, the court agreed that the plaintiff hadsubmitted exhibits that werecertified copies emanating from the office of the PDP (second defendant) and sothe second defendant should not have just denied but produce the correctdocuments to support its denial as well as produce before the court, its ballotpapers.
Thejudge ruled that Sec 157 E.A was invoked by the court and holds that the failureto produce the ballot papers shows that the plaintiff won the primarieselection.
Hetherefore ordered the PDP and INEC to publish Ned Nwoko as the PDPsenator-elect for Delta North.
Ascongratulatory messages are pouring in to Prince Nwoko described as a morepeople-oriented leader, deposed Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has asked hissupporters to remain calm as he would be shifting the battle to the AppealCourt.
