Appeal Court returns Onuigbo, sacks Atuma
From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia
A member of the House Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, was on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, reinstated by the Appeal Court, Owerri Division, as the authentic candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abia Central Senatorial Zone.
The court also sacked Hon. Emeka Atuma who had magically clinched the APC senatorial ticket for the senatorial zone.
Hon. Onuigbo, currently the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency and wants to migrate to the Senate, was declared the duly elected candidate of the party during the controversial, drawn-out primary election which pitched him against incumbent Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh.
Curiously, Atuma who had earlier contested for the Abia APC governorship ticket was declared the party’s candidate for Abia Central Senatorial Zone.
Onuigbo challenged the decision of the party, but the Federal High Court in Umuahia presided by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, ruled in favour of Atuma.
Onuigbo approached the appellate court in Owerri which wasted no time in setting aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Umuahia.
Onuigbo had insisted that Atuma did not take part in the primary election that produced him as winner.
The trial judge said that APC held Abia Central senatorial Primary on the 28th, and 29th of May 2022, which did not produce any result.
Justice Anyadike held that the party held another primary on June 7th 2022, which produced Emeka Atuma as the real candidate for Abia Central senatorial seat, saying it would be wrong for Onuigbo to rely on an inconclusive primary for his case.
The Court of Appeal, however, said the judge erred, and set aside the judgement.
Reacting to the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division ruling, Onuigbo welcomed the judgement, saying it was a good day for democracy in the country.
He added that the Judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.
