Emenike, Ogah know their fate today, says Abia APC.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

UMUAHIA—Claimants for the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship ticket in Abia State will learn their fate today, October 7, after the Federal High Court in Umuahia reserved judgment in a suit filed by one of the governorship aspirants, Daniel Eke.

Ikechi Emenike and Dr. Uche Ogah, both of whom emerged from parallel primaries, have staked their claims to the ticket.

Eke had gone to court to have the primaries declared illegal because they did not follow party directives, INEC guidelines, or the new Electoral Act.

During a hearing at the High Court, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Obinna Nkume, urged the court to declare “the purported primaries a charade and a sham.”

“My client claims that the APC governorship primaries in Abia were not conducted in accordance with party guidelines, rendering everything they did invalid.”

He contended that both “Emenike, who claimed he was produced through indirect primaries, and Ogah, who claimed he was produced through direct primaries, cannot sustain their claims.”

The plaintiff’s lawyer contended that, while the APC had directed a direct primary for Abia, Emenike “appeared through an indirect primary in clear violation of the directive,” while Ogah’s purported primary was not supervised by the party’s electoral committee.

“The Electoral Act is clear: if you choose a direct primary, you must conduct a direct primary.” The party chose a direct primary for Abia, but the committee held an indirect primary in which Emenike claims to have won.

“According to the Electoral Act, if the party’s electoral committee does not participate in your primary, even if INEC supervises it, such a primary is a sham.”

However, APC counsel asked the court to dismiss the case, claiming that the plaintiff is not a registered member of the party in his Igbere Ward.

He also argued that because the plaintiff admitted in writing that he did not participate in the primaries, he had no standing to challenge the outcome of the exercise.

H. O Afolabi, SAN, Chief Emenike’s lawyer, agreed with the submissions and arguments advanced by the APC’s lawyer, adding that the plaintiff must first prove that he participated in the primaries before challenging the outcome.

Ogah, through his Counsel, Oliver Amuzie, urged the court to void only the result of the indirect primary that “purportedly produced the 2nd defendant (Emenike),” arguing that it was in clear violation of the party directives.

Ogah’s lawyer also urged the court to reject the plaintiff’s argument that he had no locus in the matter because he did not participate, despite the fact that his name was on the result sheet.

However, Ogah’s lawyer stated that his client’s candidacy should be confirmed if it emerged from a direct mode of primary as directed by the party leadership and overseen by INEC.

Meanwhile, INEC counsel D. I Amadi stated that the commission was not a party to the suit, but urged that it be dismissed entirely.

After hearing all of the parties’ arguments, the presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, reserved judgment for Friday, October 7.

Meanwhile, Emenike’s name was included in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) final governorship list, which was released on Tuesday.

Later, Chief Eke, who was present at the court, expressed satisfaction with the proceedings thus far in an interview.

He also expressed hope for justice, vowing to fight illegality and impunity within the party.

Eke stated that he was in court to challenge injustice, arguing that parties should not be permitted to collect money from aspirants through the sale of forms while failing to hold fair primaries for them.