FORMER Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, was yesterday declared as the duly elected governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has declared.
In the judgment, Justice Nyako nullified the candidacy of Ikechi Emenike who was earlier recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), acting on an earlier Appeal Court judgment, as the party’s candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election. The APC in the state had held parallel governorship primary elections that produced Ogah and Ikechi Emenike as candidates of the party.
On September 3, the authenticity of Chief Ikechi Emenike’s candidacy was further affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. The appellate court presided over by Justice B. Georgewill dismissed the appeal filed by Mr. Uche Ogah seeking to nullify the candidature of Emenike.
In its judgment on the appeal No. CA/OW/269/2022: APC & ANOR Vs Ikechi Emenike & ANOR, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and endorsed the judgment of the Abia State High Court which recognised Emenike as the authentic candidate of APC.