Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have hailed the victory of its governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
In a unanimous judgement delivered last Friday, the panel of judges nullified the verdict of a Federal High in favour of Mr Uche Sampson Ogah against Emenike over the APC ticket.
Delivering the judgement, the panel led by Hon Justice Peter Olabisi Ige, which practically shredded Nyako’s judgement, held that Emenike’s emergence was valid and his candidacy has no blemish.
It also held that Ogah lacked the locus to challenge the result of the primary since he did not participate in it but instead claimed that he conducted a separate primary which was not sanctioned by the APC.
Ogah, the former minister of state for Mines and Steel Development, had approached the lower court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako to nullify the result of the 26 primaries which produced Emenike.
The former minister had asserted that the indirect primary as directed and supervised by a committee from the national headquarters of the APC which produced Emenike was conducted in error and should be rejected.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the state director-general of the APC Campaign Council, High Chief Uche Ogboso described it as victory for internal democracy and an idea of what lies ahead for the people.
He said, while celebrating the victory, leaders and members of the APC in the state should not lose focus on the main battle which is to liberate and develop the state as soon as possible.
“We need to continue with our ongoing campaign and mobilisation of the people on the need for them to obtain their PVCs and vote during the election. We must win this election to continue with the celebration,” he said.
Similarly, the APC candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency expressed dissatisfaction that Ogah is allowing himself to be used by enemies of the state to attempt to cause distraction to Emenike.
State organising secretary of the party, Deacon Obinna Atuonwu, described the judgement as thorough, saying “Ogah should come back home now before it becomes too late for him.”
