A Federal High Court in Umuahia has set October 4th as the date to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency Sam Onuigbo, winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abia Central Senatorial primary election.
Onuigbo sued the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Emeka Atuma as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively over substitution of his name as he is asking the court to restrain his party from substituting his name for the 2023 election.
He prayed the court to mandate the APC and INEC to immediately include his name as the candidate of the party after he emerged as the winner of primary election held between May 28 and May 29.
The suit was filed on Onuigbo’s behalf by his counsel, Emeka Obegolu who in the originating summons, argued among others, that Atuma was only an aspirant in the Abia APC governorship election and did not participate in the senatorial primary.
Speaking to newsmen, Obegolu expressed hope that his client would get justice from the court come October 4th.
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He contended that the primary election which saw Onuigbo poll 157 votes to defeat Henry Ikoh who got 152 votes was conducted by the APC electoral committee and duly monitored by INEC as attested to by the electoral body.
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However, the counsel to APC, Prof. Sam Erugo, filed counter-affidavits and adopted his written address stressing that some of the documents relied upon by the plaintiff were documents that were unhealthy to his case.
Speaking to newsmen, Professor Erugo said having laid bare all their arguments; it is left for the court to decide.
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The presiding judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike after listening to the arguments of counsel to the plaintiff and the defendants fixed October 4th for judgement.