Abia Central: Court Declares Atuma APC Senatorial Candidate

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has affirmed Hon Emeka Atuma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia Central senatorial district against Hon Sam Onuigbo.

In her ruling on Tuesday, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, dismissed the suit filed by Onuigbo, who currently represents Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, for failing to prove his case.

The lawmaker had urged the court to declare him as the winner of the APC primary election for the seat held on May 28 which the party declared inconclusive and rescheduled for June 7.

According to the court, Onuigbo’s failure to participate in the rescheduled election, where Atuma, a former representative of the constituency was declared winner was detrimental to his prayer and therefore the judge dismissed the suit.

Justice Anyadike further held that the choice of candidate for an election is an internal party affair.

Meanwhile, Justice Anyadike has fixed October 27 to hear the case involving the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB leader had through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, presented an eight-point application over the alleged Federal Government’s attack on his country home and an extraordinary rendition from Kenya.

According to Ejimakor, the case seeks to redress the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, which is said to be a 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.

He asked the court to redress the myriad violations that came with the rendition, such as the torture, the unlawful detention, and the denial of the right to a fair hearing which is required by law before anybody can be expelled from one country to the other.