Nkechinyere Ewa
The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday dismissed a pre-election suit challenging the emergence of former Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election.
The suit, filed by Idu Igariwey, a contestant in the APC primary election, sought to nullify Ekumankama’s victory and compel the party to recognise him as its duly nominated candidate for the constituency.
The plaintiff had instituted the case against the APC, Ekumankama and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Hilary Ide Oshomah, held that the plaintiff’s case lacked merit and accordingly dismissed the suit.
Igariwey had asked the court to restrain the APC and Ekumankama from presenting, sponsoring or recognising the former minister as the party’s candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the 2027 election.
He also sought an order directing the APC to recognise and publish him as its duly nominated candidate, as well as 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 as the APC candidate for the constituency.
Reacting to the judgment shortly after the proceedings, counsel to Ekumankama, Barrister Roy O. Umahi Nwaeze, SAN, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.
Nwaeze said the judgment demonstrated the competence and fairness of the judiciary in ensuring that justice prevailed, adding that the decision had further strengthened public confidence in the democratic process.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of counsel to the plaintiff, Nnaemeka Victor Nwonu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.