Imo bye-election: A’court to hear suit against Ararume’s candidature

The court of appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state, will on Tuesday hear a suit challenging the declaration of Ifeanyi Ararume as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo north senatorial bye-election.

Frank Ibezim, an aspirant, is challenging the declaration of the federal high court in Imo, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace his name with that of Ararume.

The party’s electoral committee had declared Ibezim as the party’s flag bearer for the poll and his name was submitted to INEC.

However, three other aspirants declared themselves as winners of the primary poll.

On that basis, Uchenna Onyeiwu Ubah, another aspirant, asked a federal high court in Imo to determine: “Whether INEC is bound to accept the result of the APC panel? Whether APC having successfully conducted its primaries is under legal obligation to submit the result to INEC? Whether INEC is bound to accept the candidate so presented?”

T.G. Ringim, the judge, declared Ararume as the APC candidate but Ibezim appealed the order.

He is now praying the appellate court to set aside the order of the lower court and restore his candidacy.

INEC has since fixed December 5 for bye-elections across the country. The elections will take place in six senatorial districts and nine state constituencies.

Benjamin Uwajumogu was elected as the Imo north senator at the last general election but he died in December.