The All Progressives Congress, APC, has told the Abuja Federal High Court that it did not conduct the primary election that purportedly produced Uche Ogah as its governorship candidate in Abia State in the 2023 general elections.
On the contrary, the APC claimed that its National Working Committee, NWC, conducted a primary election monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which produced Ikechi Emenike as its official governorship flag bearer in Abia state.
The APC’s counsel, Prof. Sam Eruogo, asked the court to dismiss Ogah’s suit on the grounds that having not participated in the primary election conducted by the NWC, he has no locus to challenge the legally conducted primary election.
Eruogo also told the court that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the issues of Nomination of candidates for elective office by the party.
The APC also said that the claim of Ogah that he emerged from a direct primary election cannot hold because the electoral act makes it mandatory for a direct primary to be conducted in 184 wards of the state.
Counsel for Ikechi Emenike, Lateef Fagbemile prayed the court to uphold the nomination of his client on the ground that he emerged from a primary election lawfully conducted by the APC NWC.
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Fgbemi faulted the purported nomination of the former minister of solid minerals on the ground that no state chapter of any political party has power to conduct primary election for selection of candidates.
Ogah had sued Ikechi Emenike, APC, Abdulai Adamu and INEC, praying the court to compel APC to submit his name to INEC as the lawful candidate.
Solomon Umoh, counsel for the Former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, told the court that the direct primary election that produced him was monitored by officials of INEC and that a report to that effect was made available by the electoral act.
He urged the court to nullify the nomination of Ikechi Emenike and order INEC to publish his name as the lawful APC candidate.
After taking arguments from parties, Justice Binta Nyako fixed November 11 for Judgement.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
