INEC Shuns Court Order, Publishes Emenike As Abia APC Governorship Candidate

Despite a subsisting court order from the Abia division of Federal High Court ordering the electoral umpire not to accept, recognise or publish the name or details of Ikechi Emenike as governoship candidate of APC in Abia State, INEC on Friday accorded recognition to Emenike by publishing his name.

Abia APC has been in self-inflicted injury of factionalisation, making the victory of the unpopular Peoples Democratic Party PDP ahead of the 2023 general election likely.

While the former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah is laying claim to the candidacy of Abia APC governoship, Ikechi Emenike insists he was duly elected.

Ogah emerged through a direct primary held in May while Emenike emerged through an indirect primary conducted by the Kingsley Ononogbu led faction of the party.

Publishing of Emenike’s name and others is in line with its schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

Although the lists had not been pasted in some state headquarters of the commission and there was confusion in Delta over the People’s Democratic Party, PDP’s list on the INEC portal, the names of many candidates were pasted.

In Lagos, the names of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC and Abdulazeez (Jandor) of the PDP were published.

In Enugu, Mr Peter Mbah of the PDP and other candidates were published just as High Chief Ikechi Emenike’s name was pasted as APC Governorship Candidate in Abia State.