By QueenEsther Iroanusi

The Senator representing Cross River North, Stephen Odey, has said the recent judgement by the Supreme Court on the Cross River North senatorial seat did not sack him as a senator.

He also said that he will not vacate his seat because the Supreme Court didn’t declare it vacant.

He insisted that he remained the duly elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 5 bye-election – to replace Rose Oko, who died in March, 2020.

Mr Odey, who addressed journalists in Abuja, also faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which he said, erred by issuing a certificate of return to Jarigbe Agom, relying solely on the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Messrs Odey and Agom are of the same political party, PDP. Both men claim they are the elected senator representing Cross River North senatorial district.

However, official documents from INEC and its website show that Mr Odey was the PDP candidate of the December 5 bye-election as well as winner of the election. He was issued a certificate of return on December 7 and sworn in by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on December 16, 2020.

Mr Agom had filed suits in Port Harcourt and FCT High Courts seeking revocation of his nomination as the PDP candidate and restraining the senate president from swearing in Mr Odey respectively.


Conflicting judgements

Two conflicting judgements from the FCT and Cross River High Courts initially upheld Messrs Jarigbe and Odey respectively as the winner of the bye election.

The FCT Court of Appeal also upheld the High Court ruling that he should (Mr Jarigbe) be accorded the rights of the PDP candidate.

Sequel to this ruling, the electoral umpire issued Mr Agom certificate of return on December 18 – an act which Mr Odey has faulted.

Both men currently hold separate Certificates of Return issued by INEC and are awaiting the decision of the senate president.

‘INEC erred, I was not sacked’

In his interaction with journalists, Mr Odey said not only did INEC err in issuing a certificate of return to Mr Agom, but that the recent judgement by the Supreme Court is being misinterpreted by many.

Part of the ruling in the judgement seen by PREMIUM TIMES read “that the preliminary objection on the competence of the service of the notice of appeal succeed.

“That the need to consider the issues raised in the appeal would therefore automatically abate” that means they were not ready to listen to anything that I wanted to talk about

“That the improper and ineffective service complained of, strike out.”

The lawmaker maintained that the ruling did not declare his seat vacant or asked that he be sacked.

“The supreme court struck out my appeal. I walked away. The order is clear.

“Did you see where they said ‘sack senator Odey’ here? Did you see where they said they invalidated his certificate here? He even wrote a letter to the Clerk, saying the Supreme Court judgement is in his favour, how?

“All court orders must be expressed. You don’t read intention into a court order. If a court does not say this, you can’t force the court to say it.”

He further said the stage where the rightful candidate was determined was resolved in two separate rulings by the Court of Appeal in Calabar.

When asked the current situation, Mr Odey said “There is no situation. I am comfortably seated as the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He can be going about with his certificate.”

He added that the PDP played its role well by issuing a letter to INEC saying ‘this is my candidate’.

The party, he said, also appealed to the Supreme Court saying that Mr Jarigbe was not their candidate.

Reacting to Mr Odey’s claim, INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said “the matter is completely out of the hand of the commission.”

“As at the day of the election, the commission issued a certificate of return to Odey based on the election and law.

“Thereafter, there was a court judgement and the commission issued a certificate of return to Jarigbe based on order.

“This is not the first time the commission is doing this. We have in the past issued a certificate of return and then a judgement will come and we will issue another and another judgment will come and we will issue and so on,” Mr Okoye told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

“As far as the commission is concerned, we have done our own part based on its understanding of the law. It is now left for the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate President to make the decision.”

Shabaleen:
To avoid trouble, one should be the senator while the other 1 should be deputy senator!

eedimo:
This man thinks Ayade is Nigerian governor general or what?
A self acclaimed lawyer who doesn't understand the law.

A Federal high court and appeal courts had earlier ruled in favour of Jarigbe, You went to Supreme court to counter the decision of both courts, the sent you away; His dull brain should be able to tell him that the lower court decision stands.
Let him keep disgracing himself and his Governor general who is sponsoring him

shevy878:


Olodo,so you imaging a federal high court in porthacourt will now be deciding for CRS when a federal high court sitting in calabar has already affirm S.Odey as the authentic candidate. Keep deceiving your self that Jarigbe will sit on that red chamber.