Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has been recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat.
Barring any new development, particular a court ruling, the INEC recognition settles the contest between Governor Umahi and Princess Ann Agom-Eze who have both been locked in a political battle to determine who emerges the authentic APC candidate.
However, according to the INE list released on Tuesday, the Ebonyi State Governor has been recognized as the Ebonyi South Senatorial District APC candidate for the 2023 election.
The Controversy
It will be recalled that Umahi contested the APC presidential ticket but lost out to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
However, following the Governor’s loss of the presidential ticket, his brother, Austin Umahi who contested and won the APC senatorial ticket for Ebonyi South, stepped down from the race, paving the way for a rerun which Umahi won unopposed.
However, INEC refused to recognize his candidacy.
Court Intervention
Following the position adopted by INEC, Governor Umahi approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order compelling the electoral umpire to recognize him as the authentic APC candidate for the position.
The Agom-Eze Angle
The runner-up in the initial APC primary won by Governor Umahi’s younger brother, Ann Agom-Eze joined the suit and urged the court to recognize her as the candidate of the party.
But the court, presided over by Justice Fatun Riman ruled that a fresh primary be conducted by the party and all interested persons be allowed to take part in it.
Not satisfied with the order of the high court, Agom-Eze, took the case before a Court of Appeal in Enugu State for a stay of execution.
But the APC in Ebonyi obtained an order from the Federal High Court to go ahead with the primary which was eventually won by Umahi while Agom-Eze refused to participate in the fresh process.
Matter Still Before Appeal Court
Back in August following the controversy surrounding her reported suspension from the APC, Agom-Eze revealed that the matter of the authentic APC candidate is still before the Appeal Court in Enugu.
While denying reports of her suspension, she added; “This matter is pending at the Court of Appeal, Enugu. How can I be suspended at the APC zonal office? What is my crime? Insisting on the mandate right? Or because Governor Umahi wants the ticket? Where will he take it to? By contesting for the President, he has used his opportunity for this electoral year. He needs to accept the truth.”
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