Kufre George
The Supreme Court yesterday affirmed the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, as the authentic candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District election.
In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel led by Justice Kudirat Ekekere-Ekun dismissed an appeal that was filed by an aggrieved aspirant for the senatorial seat, Princess Ann Agom-Eze.
The panel held that the appeal lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.
Agom-Eze had approached the court to set aside the concurrent judgements of both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld the outcome of the primary election that produced Governor Umahi.
Mrs Agom-eze had emerged second in the initial senatorial primary the APC held on May 28, which was won by Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Governor Umahi.
However, after Governor Umahi failed in his bid to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC, his younger brother was said to have voluntarily relinquished the senatorial ticket to him.
Not satisfied with the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it would not recognize his candidacy.
In its judgement yesterday, the Supreme Court also upheld the primary election and affirmed governor Umahi’s candidacy.
