Hon Emeka Atuma is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Abia Central senatorial district against Hon Sam Onuigbo, according to a Federal High Court in Umuahia.
The member representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency filed a lawsuit, which Justice Evelyn Anyadike, sitting in the capital of Abia State, dismissed Wednesday for failure to state a claim.
Onuigbo had requested that the court pronounce him the victor of the APC primary election for the position, which was held on May 28 but was then canceled by the party and rescheduled for June 7.
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The court dismissed the lawsuit after finding that Onuigbo’s absence from the rescheduled election, in which Atuma, a former representative of the constituency, was declared the victor, was prejudicial to his request.
The judge further held that it is settled in law that the choice of candidate for an election is an internal party affair even as the APC counsel, Barr Vigilus Nwankwo later said Onuigbo’s case failed like a pack of cards.
Reacting to the judgement, Atuma, who was a member of the Green Chamber from 2003-2007, said there was no victor, no vanquished, adding that his main focus is to win the main election.
However, attempts to reach Onuigbo, who is finishing his second term on the seat, for comment at the time this report was filed, were fruitless.
In another development, the court has fixed October 27 for judgement on the fundamental right suit of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu against the federal government.
Special Counsel for Kanu, Barr Aloy Ejimakor told newsmen that; “The suit is sui generis (of a special class) and it is primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu.”
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According to him: “This is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.”
