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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Federal High Court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State, yesterday, dismissed a suit challenging the candidature of former Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer in Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency for the 2027 general election.
The suit, filed by Hon. Iduma Igariwey, who contested the APC primary, sought to invalidate Ekumankama’s candidature and compel the party to recognise him as its duly nominated candidate of the party. The suit was instituted against the APC, Ekumankama, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Hilary Oshomah, found no merit in the plaintiff’s case and, accordingly, dismissed the suit.
Igariwey had prayed the court to restrain the APC and Ekumankama from presenting, sponsoring, or recognising Ekumankama as the party’s candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in next year’s general election.
He also sought an order directing the APC to recognise and publish him as its duly nominated candidate and compelling INEC to accept him as the party’s candidate in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026. However, the court rejected the claims, effectively upholding Ekumankama’s emergence from the APC primary election.
Reacting to the judgment shortly after the proceedings, counsel to Ekumankama, Roy Umahi Nwaeze, SAN, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. He said the judgment demonstrated the competence and fairness of the judiciary in ensuring that justice prevailed, adding that the decision had further strengthened confidence in the democratic process.
