Umahi vs Agom-Eze: Supreme Court Takes Final Decision On Ebonyi South APC Senatorial Candidate

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the suit seeking to disqualify Governor Dave Umahi as the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the 2023 Ebonyi South Senatorial District election.

The apex court in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of Justices, affirmed Umahi as the authentic APC candidate, dismissing the suit brought by Princess Ann Agom-Eze for lack of merit.

Naija News understands the panel was led by Justice Kudirat Ekekere-Ekun.

It would be recalled that Agom-Eze and Umahi have been involved in a running legal battle over who should be the authentic APC candidate for the senatorial district.

Before getting to the Supreme Court, the Federal High Court as well as the Court of Appeal had upheld the APC primary election.

The May 28 APC primary election was initially won by Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Gov Umahi.

However, after Governor Umahi failed in his bid to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC, his younger brother was said to have voluntarily relinquished the senatorial ticket to him but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disagreed with the move and declared the Governor’s candidacy won’t be recognized.

Agom-Eze also took the matter to court and a Federal High Court sitting at Abakaliki, nullified Governor Umahi’s candidacy and ordered that a fresh primary election should be conducted within two weeks.

A second primary conducted by the APC on July 31 was won by Governor Umahi but Agom-Eze disagreed with the process and instead wanted the ticket given to her as the runner-up in the first primary election.

However, both the High Court and the Appellate Court dismissed the suit which sought to invalidate the second primary which produced Governor Umahi.

On Friday, the Supreme Court also upheld the primary election and affirmed Governor Umahi as the authentic APC candidate for the senatorial election billed for 2023.