By Chikaodi Chukwuleta

The Federal High Court sitting in Awka will on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, give final judgment in the lawsuit filed by Chief Valentine Ozigbo against Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s nomination as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Anambra State gubernatorial election.

During the court proceedings on June 18, 2025, Ozigbo surprisingly admitted that Ukachukwu’s nomination followed due process. Initially, Ozigbo had claimed that Ukachukwu wasn’t eligible to contest the primary election due to alleged non-membership of the APC three months prior to the election.

However, after reviewing the counter-affidavits and documentary evidence presented by the defendants (APC, Ukachukwu, and INEC), Ozigbo shifted his argument, questioning not Ukachukwu’s membership but rather the timing of his membership.

The court heard Ozigbo’s attempt to present audio/video clips as evidence, but under cross-examination, he conceded that the clips didn’t mention Ukachukwu’s APC membership date. Furthermore, Ozigbo admitted that the primary election was conducted without breaching the Electoral Act or APC guidelines.

Given the overwhelming evidence against Ozigbo’s case, including recent Supreme Court decisions (such as R.S.H.A. vs Government of Rivers State) that establish a membership card as proof of membership and date, it’s likely the court will rule in favor of the defendants.

The APC had presented Ukachukwu’s membership card, which showed his registration date in Osumenyi, Nnewi South Council Electoral Ward, and this evidence wasn’t disputed by Ozigbo.

The court’s judgment on July 23, 2025, will determine the outcome of Ozigbo’s lawsuit.