There has been a major political upset in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria as incumbent Governor Dave Umahi lost a bid to contest for a Senate seat in the 2023 general elections.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Friday disqualified the Ebonyi State Governor from standing as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ebonyi South Senatorial district.
Also disqualified is the Governor’s younger brother, Austin Umahi who had earlier won the ticket but withdrew for his elder brother, the Governor.
Justice Fatun Riman, however ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct a rerun primary, but was not emphatic on those qualified to participate in it.
In the build up to the legal tussle that led to Friday’s judgement, Austin Umahi had emerged as the winner of the first primary election conducted by the APC, with the only female challenger, Ann Agom-Eze coming second.
However, the younger Umahi purportedly withdrew his candidature to pave way for Governor Umahi, after a failed bid in the APC presidential ticket contest.
A rescheduled Ebonyi South Senatorial primary election by the State chapter of the Party said to have been won by Governor Umahi but rejected by INEC led to the court case.
Justice Riman dismissed the suit instituted by Umahi himself, citing section 115 of the Electoral Act which forbids a person from standing for two different primary elections in the same electoral circle.
The judgment notes the consequences of such an action, which is punishable with two years jail term if a person if found guilty of making the claim.
But, Governor Umahi has been reacting to the court judgement, saying that the judge was misled by Ann Agom-Eze.
Also Read : BREAKING 2023: Ebonyi Court Disqualifies Umahi From Contesting Senatorial Election
A statement by the Governor’s Special Assistant on Strategy, Chooks Okoh, says Agom-Eze lied on oath that she never withdrew from the contest.
The Governor alleges that Agom-Eze connived with her friend who is a member of the APC National Working Committee to submit forged documents purported to be coming from the Party’s National headquarters.
“Ann Agom Eze and her PDP collaborators are ignorant of the wordings of section 115 of the Electoral law they are quoting, as the Governor was never a candidate in any two elections, as they are oblivious of the difference between a candidate and an aspirant”, the statement reads in part.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
