A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Friday, recognised Princess Ann Agom-Eze, as the Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, for Ebonyi South Zone.
The judgement follows a suit by Governor Umahi through his Counsel, Roy Nweze Umahi, at the Federal High Court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, to recognise the governor as the authentic senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South senatorial District.
However, Princess Agom-Eze on Tuesday, approached the court and urged it not to recognise Governor Umahi’s Senatorial bid.
Agom-Eze was the second runner-up during APC’s first primary election that produced Mr. Austin Umahi, the governor’s younger brother as the winner,
Mr. Austin Umahi had withdrawn at the 2nd primary election conducted on June 9, 2022, wherein the governor was reported to have won unopposed following his loss during the party’s presidential primary.
Delivering his judgement on Friday, Justice Fatun Riman, cited section 115 of the Electoral Act 2022, saying the governor was not an aspirant and cannot participate in the election or pre-election matters of the All Progressives Congress as regards the Ebonyi South zone, whose primary held on the 28th day of May, 2022.
According to the above section of the new Electoral Act, the governor neither procured forms for nor participated in the election and cannot claim any right based on the primary election.
In a quick reaction to the court’s decision, the Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Strategy, Chris Oko, said Agom-Eze misled the judge.
Oko alleged that Agom-Eze lied on oath that she never withdrew from the contest, stressing that there would be a rerun of the election.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
