* Insists on Emenike despite court ruling
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has declared that Ikechi Emenike remains its governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Its stance is despite a court ruling on Friday which declared the former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, as the duly elected governorship candidate of the party.
Justice Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had invalidated the candidacy of Ikechi Emenike, who was earlier recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Judge ordered the party to forward Ogah’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the duly elected Abia State governorship candidate for the 2023 election.
However, APC legal adviser in the State, Vigilus Nwankwo, who issued a response shortly after the ruling, declared that the judgment of the lower court cannot stand.
Nwankwo noted that the Appeal Court had already affirmed Emenike as the duly elected candidate of Abia APC.
He said: “In the eye of the law Ikechi Emenike still remains the candidate of APC in Abia. The judgment cannot be enforced or executed until the final pronouncement by the Supreme Court on the subject matter.”