The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has remained mute, hours after two judgements of the Court of Appeal in Owerri, and Federal High Court, Abuja, respectively gave two judgements.
The Federal High Court Abuja, had declared Araraume as candidate of the party.
Justice Iyang Ekwo rebuked INEC for being partisan, and disqualified the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Frank Ibezim from contesting on the grounds that he made false statements/declarations in the affidavit and documents he tendered to the APC and to INEC, wherein he presented falsified and uncertified photocopies of WAEC certificate.
The judgement was on suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1229/2020 filed by Asomugha Tony Elebeke with Ibezim, APC and INEC as defendants.
The Court of Appeal, Owerri in it’s judgement, Friday declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the APC for Okigwe senate election
In his judgement, delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam sacked Senator Araraume who had been acting as candidate of the party based on the judgement of the Federal High Court, Owerri.
INEC is yet to respond to the judgement in favour of the two candidates.
But this newspaper observed that Senator Araraume’s name still remains on the records of the electorial body as one of the 14 candidates to take part in the election.
APC Has No Candidate- PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,. Imo State, said based on the two judgements, the All Progressive Congress, APC has no candidate for the Okigwe senate election.
In a statement by Ray Emeana, Secretary of the party, he said ” following the disqualification of Mr. Frank Ibezim, by this judgement and the Appeal Court judgement against Araraume, it therefore follows that the APC has no candidate for the Imo North Senatorial bye Election’
“The Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State hereby calls upon the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to as a matter of urgency, disqualify the APC as a party from participating in tomorrow’s Imo North Senatorial bye election as they have no candidate for the election”
