Appeal court affirms Umahi as Ebonyi south senatorial candidate

A court of appeal in Abuja has affirmed David Umahi, Ebonyi governor, as the validly elected candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ebonyi south senatorial election.

Ann Agom-Eze had challenged Umahi’s emergence as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

On July 22, a federal high court in Abakaliki dismissed a suit filed by Umahi, asking the court to recognise him as the APC candidate for the senatorial district.

The court subsequently ordered that a fresh primary election be conducted within 14 days.

The APC conducted a fresh primary election on July 31, and Umahi was declared the winner.

A few weeks after the loss, Agom-Eze was expelled from the APC over alleged rebellious and unruly behaviour.

Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by the governor, the appeal court held that the high court was wrong when it upheld Agom-Eze’s counter-affidavit.

The appellate further held that the trial court erred when it failed to uphold the primary election of June 9 where Umahi was nominated as the APC senatorial candidate.

The court averred that the nomination was never challenged by anybody within 14 days as stipulated by section 285(9) of the 1999 constitution.