By Emegwoako C. Paschal
An Abuja court of appeal has declared Governor David Umahi as the All Progressives Congress Ebonyi south senatorial candidate.
Umahi’s emergence as the APC candidate for the senatorial district was contested by Ann Agom-Eze.
Recall a Federal High Court in Abakaliki dismissed a lawsuit filed by Umahi on Friday, July 22, 2022, in which he sought the court’s recognition as the APC candidate for the senatorial district, following which the court ruled that a new primary election must be held within 14 days.
Umahi’s initial emergence as the APC candidate for the senatorial district was contested by Ann Agom-Eze in court.
However on Sunday, July 31, the APC held new primary elections, and Umahi was declared the victor. Agom-Eze was expelled from the APC due to alleged rebellious and disruptive behavior a few weeks after the defeat.
The trial court erred, according to the appellate court, in failing to uphold the primary election on June 9 in which Umahi was declared the APC senatorial candidate.
According to the Court, no one ever raised a challenge to the nomination within the allotted 14-day period required by section 285(9) of the 1999 constitution. Umahi claimed that God’s will guided him on his journey to the National Assembly.
The Governor thanked God in a statement released by his media assistant, Chooks Oko, for the recently rendered decision of the Abuja Court of Appeal, which recognized him as the legitimate candidate for the APC in Ebonyi South.
The Governor also expressed his gratitude to all of the State’s residents, especially those in the Senatorial district, for their prayers, perseverance, and goodwill, which led to the favorable ruling.
He also praised the judiciary for being an impartial arbiter in disputes between people and for being forthright and dependable.
