After the Supreme Court judgment of January 27 affirming him the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Abia Central, Honourable Sam Onuigbo declared on Sunday that he has been vindicated.
Onuigbo, who currently represents Ikwuano Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, said this while featuring as guest of the Abia Media Forum (AMF) during a virtual interactive session.
“I feel good; I feel vindicated, because God has actually come through for me by not allowing me to be destroyed by some evildoers. So, I just give God the glory. I particularly thank God for keeping me alive, and giving me good health to come this far,” he said, when asked to express his feelings following the apex court judgment.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court verdict of January 27 upheld the Court of Appeal judgment, which had awarded the Abia Central Senatorial ticket of the APC to Onuigbo, ditching his political opponent, Emeka Atuma
The Supreme Court delivered two appeal judgments against Emeka Atuma in favour of Onuigbo.
Affirming the judgment of the Court of Appeal Owerri Division, Justice Coram Agim declared that Onuigbo is the legal and rightful candidate of the APC for Abia Central Senatorial District.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, had earlier sacked Atuma as the candidate of the APC for Abia Central senatorial race.
According to the Court of Appeal, Onuigbo was the elected candidate of the APC having participated in the party’s primaries and also purchased the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms.
In its judgment, the court set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court Umuahia presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, which earlier declared Atuma winner of the primary election.
Onuigbo, in continuation of his interaction with members the AMF – an assemblage of top journalists of Abia extraction – said: “As the Court of Appeal found out, my opponent (Emeka Atuma) never participated in the APC Abia Central primaries; now the judiciary has established the truth.”
On his acceptance by the electorate, and his chances of winning the senatorial election slatted for February 25, Onuigbo said: “We have been campaigning hard, and leaving the rest to God.”
Asked on what basis the people of Abia Central Senatorial District would vote for him, the two-term Federal lawmaker reeled out his contributions to the socio-economic wellbeing of his constituents/constituency – both tangible and intangible – anchored on the mantra of EAR acronym, which he said means ‘Effectiveness, Accessibility, and Responsiveness’.
Regardless that his primary assignment as a legislator is to make laws for good governance, Onuigbo said he has facilitated a number physical projects to his immediate constituency, and beyond.
An example, he continued, is the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene highway, which he said he is currently following up to ensure its delivery.
When completed, Onuigbo further reckoned, it will facilitate trade between the two states.
For instance, he looks forward to air travelers landing at Uyo Airport and being able to connect Abia State without having to wade through a bumpy road.
Onuigbo, while expressing dissatisfaction with the state of things in Abia State, especially the Abia Central Senatorial District, said he feels challenged to do his best to change the narrative, hence he is in the race.