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By Chijindu Emeruwa.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has finally included the names and details of the current member representing Ikwuano Umuahia North/Umuahia South federal constituency in Abia state at the house of representatives, Abuja, Hon Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo, as the main All Progressives Congress Senatorial candidate for Abia central district seat election next year.
This was contained in an amended list of senate candidates for 2023 general elections by the Nigerian electoral commission in pursuant to court orders dated 22nd December, 2022.
Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state had in November 2022, sacked Mr Emeka Atumah as the candidate of the APC for Abia central senatorial district seat election in 2023, and affirmed the current member of the national assembly, Hon Sam Onuigbo as the duly elected senatorial candidate of the party for Abia central district seat in the incoming next year’s general elections in the federation.
In a unanimous judgement by a panel of the Imo appellate court, also 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 28 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.
The two-term federal lawmaker, Chief Hon Sam 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 Emeka Atumah.
