Abia 2023: Emenike Survives Bid To Nullify Primary

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike,  yesterday survived another bid to stop him from contesting the election next year.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Umuahia dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the primary election that produced him as the APC candidate.

Chief Daniel Eke had approached the court to nullify the election  conducted by the national leadership of the APC, saying the primary did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act as well as the party’s own guidelines.

Delivering judgement in suit No. FHC/UM/CS/96/2022 the judge noted that the plaintiff has no locus standi to challenge the outcome of the election which he did not participate in.

“This suit is hereby dismissed and there is no need to look into the merits,” she declared.

With the verdict, the courts have so far disposed of 19 of the 23 cases and the APC governorship flag bearer for Abia has emerged unscathed in all.

Eke joined the APC, Emenike, the Independent National Electoral Commission and former minister of state for mines and steel development, Mr. Uche Ogah as defendants.

He further claimed that the governorship primary that produced Emenike was conducted through indirect process while Ogah merely wrote results, claiming that he conducted direct primary without the party and the commission’s involvement.