An Abia High Court has nullified the victory of All Progressives Congress aspirant, Chief Ikechi Emenike, the acclaimed winner of the governorship primary election.
The presiding judge, Justice O. A. Chijioke annulled the result on Thursday, hours after Emenike was declared winner of the controversial primary election in the state.
Justice Chijioke also issued an injunction restraining Emenike from parading himself as the duly elected candidate of the party for the governorship election.
The judgement is consequent upon a suit instituted by one Mr. Chinedum Nwole and two others.
The judge ruled that Emenike lacks the locus standi to contest the primary election because he had earlier been suspended from the party.
The court averred that both Emenike and the APC State Chairman, Chief Donatus Nwakpa violated article 9.3 of the APC constitution by going ahead to participate in the primary election.
Justice Chijioke declared their participation in the ward, local council, state and the recently held national convention of the party as illegal.
The ruling read in part, “That by the virtue of the suspension of the first defendant (Emenike) as a member of the second defendant (APC), the first defendant cannot participate in whatever form whatsoever in the activities of the second defendant including the scheduled ward, local government, state and national congresses of the second defendant due to to take place between 2021 and 2022.
“That order of injunction is hereby made restraining the first defendant from parading, dignifying and or posturing himself as a legitimate member of APC during the subsisting of his suspension from the party as prescribed by the constitution.”
Consequently, the judge directed the National Working Committee of the party to desist from having further dealing with the duo based on the subsisting court order.