Appeal Court affirms Umahi as APC candidate for Ebonyi South

A Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Governor David Umahi as the validly elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ebonyi-south senatorial election.

Ann Agom-Eze had challenged Umahi’s emergence as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

On July 22, a Federal High Court in Abakaliki dismissed a suit filed by Umahi, asking the court to recognise him as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

The court subsequently ordered that a fresh primary election be conducted within 14 days.

The APC conducted a fresh primary election on July 31 and Umahi was declared the winner.

A few weeks after the loss, Agom-Eze was expelled from the APC over alleged rebellious and unruly behaviour.

Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by the governor, the appeal court held that the high court was wrong when it upheld Agom-Eze’s counter-affidavit.

The Appellate Court further held that the trial court erred when it failed to uphold the primary election of June 9 where Umahi was nominated as the APC senatorial candidate.

Umahi described his journey to the National Assembly as the will of God.

The governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Chooks Oko, expressed gratitude to God for the judgement of the Court of Appeal which confirmed him as the authentic flag-bearer for APC Ebonyi South.

He also appreciated the people of the Senatorial district in particular, and the entire state for their prayers, steadfastness and goodwill which culminated in the victorious judgement.

He also commended the judiciary for their forthrightness and dependability as an impartial arbiter in human conflicts.

The statement read in part, “With the judgement, the Court has once again, asserted its inviolate position as the hope of all seekers after justice.”

“The governor wishes to seize this opportunity to strengthen his vow of offering the best Senatorial representation to the good people of the senatorial district even as he pledges to use the position to further advance the cause of Ndi Igbo and disadvantaged Nigerians.

‘He beckons on all the stakeholders of the district to Join hands with him and the All Progressives Congress to deliver other quality candidates in the 2023 general elections.’