Court Affirms Atuma As Abia Central APC Candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has affirmed Hon Emeka Atuma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia Central senatorial district against Hon Sam Onuigbo.

Justice Evelyeen Anyadike, sitting in the Abia State capital, yesterday dismissed the suit filed by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency for failing to prove his case.

Onuigbo had prayed the court to declare him as the winner of the APC primary election for the seat held on May 28 which the party declared inconclusive and rescheduled it for June 7.

The court held that Onuigbo’s failure to participate in the rescheduled election, where Atuma, a former representative of the constituency was declared winner was detrimental to his prayer and therefore dismissed the suit.

The judge further held that it is settled in law that the choice of candidate for an election is an internal party affair even as the APC counsel, Barr Vigilus Nwankwo  later said Onuigbo’s case failed like a pack of cards.

Reacting to the judgement, Atuma, who was a member of the Green Chamber from 2003-2007, said there was no victor, no vanquished, adding that his main focus is to win the main election.

However, LEADERSHIP’s effort to get reaction from Onuigbo, who is serving out his second term on the seat was unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

In another development, the court has fixed October 27 for judgement on the fundamental right suit of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu against the federal government.

Special Counsel for Kanu, Barr Aloy Ejimakor told newsmen that; “The suit is sui generis (of a special class) and it is primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu.”

According to him: “This is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.”