By Chijindu Emeruwa
The member representing Ikwuano/umuahia federal constituency in Abia state at the house of representatives Abuja, and the All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Abia central district seat election in 2023, Chief Hon Sam Onuigbo, has expressed profound appreciation to his constituents, party members and numerous of his teeming supporters and the party across the electoral wards of the five local government areas in Abia central senatorial zone throughout the duration of all court proceedings in the appeal challenging his illegal substitution of his names and details with a governorship aspirant on same political party after recent conclusion of primary elections by the APC national leadership in many states in the federation .
The lawmaker was speaking on the background of the recent verdict of a court of appeal sitting in owerri, imo state, affirmed him as the authentic APC Senatorial candidate for Abia central district seat election holding next year in the country.
Onuigbo spoke through his Chief Liason officer, Evangelist Abraham Osondu, while being received by mammoths of party faithfuls and supporters in umuhu ohuhu clan in Umuahia north local government area in Abia central senatorial district.
Our correspondent reports that the frontine APC main ticket-bearer for Abia central Senatorial seat election was on the visit in Umuhu in Ohuhu to inform supporters about the recent landmark judgement of owerri appellate court which affirmed his senatorial candidacy under the governing All Progressives Congress in Nigeria.
Continuing, Onuigbo said the people of Ohuhu umuahia community have shown capacity and commitment in their support for him for past years and noted with pleasure that the uncommon gesture would never be taken for granted as he remained committed to steadily enhance and engender the needed growths and development in every parts of Abia central.
Words: “We will not take for granted the love and support Ohuhu people have shown to us, that was why you are the first people we visited since the court of Appeal judgement. This shows we hold you in high esteem.
“Onuigbo has moved and got the consent of the Federal Government to build a Federal Secretariat in Ekeoba community in Ohuhu clan. This is a tip in the ice barge to what we propose to bring to this clan that has shown us love since we began the journey
Odozi Obodo charged his numerous teeming supporters to keep hope alive and remain steadfast in their continuous supports to the progressive party and his genuine desire to bring in many more dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of every citizens of Ikwuano/umuahia federal constituency and entire Abia central zone.
“The journey is no longer far, so I urge you not to be afraid, remain committed, remain focused and put your eyes on the target which is to win at the poll come February 2023,” Onuigbo recounted.
While welcoming the leading Abia central senatorial standard-bearer of the APC to Umuhu Ohuhu Umuahia clan in Abia state, Mr Rogers Nwandu Egerue, the umuahia north coordinator of Onuigbo Campaign Organization, described Hon Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Onuigbo as a man who makes promise and keep to it.
He urged his people to support him and ensure he is delivered in their various pooling units come February 2023.
Recall that the court of appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state capital had late November 2022, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Chief Samuel Onuigbo as candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2023 Abia Central Senatorial district election.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Rita Pemu in Owerri, the court affirmed that Chief Onuigbo was validly nominated in a primary election that took place on the 28th day of May, 2022.
The court set aside the judgement of a high court in Umuahia which had earlier confirmed Mr. Emeka Atuma as the authentic candidate of the party for the election.
Justice Pemu therefore directed INEC and the APC to issue certificate of return to Chief Sam Onuigbo and publish his name as the validly nominated candidate.
Also recall that Onuigbo, had in June 2022 asked an federal high court in Umuahia to restrain his party (APC) from substituting his name for the 2023 general election.
He sued the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Emeka Atuma as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively over alleged substitution of his name with another name.
