ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Appeal Court in Abuja, has resumed hearing on the Ebonyi South Senatorial tussle between Governor David Umahi and Ann Agom-Eze.
Agom-Eze and Umahi’s younger brother, Austin Umahi had contested the Ebonyi south senatorial zone ticket in the first primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at Afikpo North LGA headquarters, but Agom-Eze lost, scoring only two votes.
Later, Austin Umahi who won the APC Primary election with a wide margin withdrew, and another primaries re-conducted wherein Governor Umahi won.
But the independent National electoral commission (INEC), failed to upload Governor Umahi’s name as the authentic senatorial candidate of the party then.
Following this, Governor Umahi proceeded to the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, and demanded that the INEC, should publish his name as the authentic senatorial candidate of APC in Ebonyi south senatorial zone.
Agom-Eze, who allegedly was not comfortable with the arrangement, proceeded to the Federal High Court, to demand that she should be joined in the matter.
The Presiding Judge, Fatun Riman, in his ruling failed to recognize Umahi as authentic senatorial candidate for Ebonyi south senatorial zone, but ordered that a fresh primary election be conducted, and will allow fresh participants to participate.
Similarly, the leadership of the ruling APC, conducted a fresh primary election as ordered by the court, wherein David Umahi scored a total of 250 votes to defeat his rivals.
It was learnt that Ann Agom-Eze, who is not comfortable with the ruling of the Federal High Court, further proceeded to the Appeal Court to seek interpretation of the ruling of the lower court.
The Appeal Court, a 3-man panel, led by the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Ada, who entertained the matter, according to investigation, has slated 26th of September; 2022 for ruling.
Speaking to newsmen after the hearing on Friday, the counsel to Governor David Umahi, Barr. Roy Nweze faulted Mrs. Agom-Eze for challenging a matter that was already pending in Court, after 14 days as required by the constitution.
Nweze said: “The matter came up for hearing in the Appeal Court. And was adjourned to a date that will be communicated for judgement, and that’s where the matter ended today.
“And then, the woman said it is her name that should be published instead, that the governor didn’t contest in the primary election.
“But then, everything she did was against the run of the law, because the law said in section 285 (9) of the constitution that anything you are challenging must be done within 14 days, but she was sleeping and suddenly woke up and began to challenge the process.
“I don’t see how she can succeed with her case because the constitution required in section 285 (9) that any person challenging the action taken with respect to any events must do it within 14 days, which she never did.
“She knows that she is not going to succeed, and that 285(9) of the constitution is something that is so strong, and that it is not so easy for her to do anything,” he stated.
When contacted for reaction, the counsel to Ann Agom-Eze, Bar. Nnaemeka Nwonu, said he was too busy and can’t say anything now.