BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
A High Court sitting in Owerri, Tuesday, ruled on the issue of jurisdiction in a matter instituted by the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Imo State.
APGA had among other things, sought from the Court, an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC not to issue Certificate of Return, COR, to Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, as winner of the December 5, 2020 Imo North Senatorial bye election.
Araraume’s bumpy ride to the senate has been turbulent, as the two time senator is already entangled in legal fireworks with Frank Ibezim, over who is the authentic candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the same election.
Araraume had emerged the governorship candidate of APGA, a party which he emerged its governorship candidate in the 2019 Imo governorship election.
The John Iwuala led Imo APGA caretaker committee had dragged Senator Araraume to court with a prayer that INEC should not issue him a Certificate of Return, on the basis that Araraume remains a member of APGA as the time he vied for Imo North Senatorial election.
The presiding judge, Justice Agada ruled that the State High Court lacks jurisdiction to issue such restraining order.
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