Martin Apugo Slams Judge Over Court Ruling

Honourable Martin Apugo, a national assembly candidate in the just concluded general election for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency has reacted to the judgement delivered by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, in which the Judge annulled the All Progressive Congress primary for the National.

Recall that one of the aspirants and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka had approached the court challenging the emergence of Hon. Apugo as the APC flag bearer for Ikwuano/ Umuahia federal Constituency.

In his ruling, Justice Osiagor had cited the APC construction which insists that, ” It is only the Coalition officer that can announce the results of the primary election.

“The law deemed it very fit and necessary that primary election does not correspond with electoral act 2010 as amended. On this ground, the primary election is hereby annulled. The party, APC should conduct fresh primary election in Umuahia South Constituency so that a substantive candidate will emerge”.

But in his reaction, Hon. Apugo posited that those who brought the matter to the court did not ask for nullification. According to him, what both parties asked for was to have one of them declared winner of the primary contest, and not an outright annulment of the exercise.

His words, ” The judge said he annulled the primary election. So, what does it mean? That means it is neither here nor there”

In his reaction also, counsel to Hon. Apugo, Mr. Oliver Amuzie who spoke to Journalists shortly after the court session, declared that there was no judgement on the matter, as far as he was concerned, even as he stated that since the case has lasted more than 180 days, the Judge cannot pass any judgement on the matter, talk less of voiding the electoral process.

Ohajuruka had approached the court to declare him the winner of the October 5, 2018 National Assembly primary of the APC following what he described as electoral manipulations that was said to have marred the exercise.