Umahi suffers a significant setback after losing the APC Senatorial ticket to a female candidate

By Adeleye Kunle

A Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has recognized Princess Ann Agom-Eze as the All Progressives Congress’ senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South.
This follows the withdrawal of Austin Umahi, the state governor’s younger brother, from the race after winning the party’s primary to make way for the governor, who lost the APC presidential primary.

According to Mike Igini, the resident electoral commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, it is illegal for politicians to obtain multiple forms, and those found guilty face a two-year prison sentence.

Dave Umahi, through his counsel Roy Nweze Umahi, who also doubles as his older brother, dragged INEC to the Federal High Court in Abakaliki in order to get INEC to recognize him as the genuine senatorial candidate for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District.

Princess Agom-Eze, who finished second in the first primary, appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded with the judges not to accept Governor Umahi as the APC candidate.

She also denied obtaining a withdrawal affidavit through her lawyer.

Umahi’s counsel argued in court that INEC should recognize the governor as the winner of the Ebonyi South Senatorial Primary held in the state’s Afikpo North Local Government Area.

Austin Umahi, the governor’s younger brother, has withdrawn from the June 9, 2022, second primary election, which the governor is expected to win without opposition.

In his decision on Friday, Justice Fatun Riman cited Section 115 of the Electoral Act, 2022, saying the governor was not an aspirant and could not participate in the All Progressives Congress’ election or pre-election matters in Ebonyi South, whose primary was held on May 28, 2022.

This article first appeared on Track News.