Ebonyi: APGA Candidate Drags INEC To Court Over Alleged Planned Substitution of His Name

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

The All Progressives Grand Alliance,APGA, House of Representatives candidate of Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency,Hon Joseph Nwobashi has seek for court order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from publishing other candidate for the party in Ebonyi State.

Recall that the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate contested and declared winner in the primaries held on the 27th day of May, 2022. Nwobashi has asked the court to order Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to publish Hon Anayo Nwonu or any other aspirant's name as he was duly elected to represent his constituency in the primary election that was held on 27th May. In a suit filled before the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki on the 9th day of August 2022 in suit No FHC/A1/cs/173/2022. HON Joseph Nwobashi prayed the Court to restrain the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Victor Ike Oye, Hon Anayo Edwin and the Independent National Electoral Commission from publishing any other name rather than his name (Joseph Nwobashi) as he remains the winner of the primary elections that was monitored and supervised by both the INEC and party officials.

According to him, the party candidate wondered why Hon Anayo Edwin, who contested the primaries for Governorship position under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost would now come to claim a ticket under APGA which has already concluded it's primary elections into National Assembly weeks before he lost out in PDP. He maintained that the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has been playing foul game in the matter as there are open evidences of his winning in the primaries.

However, during the sitting of the Federal High Court in Abakaliki on 16th day of August 2022, the Court granted a leave to Hon Nwobashi to serve the defendants the operating processes and all other processes accompaninying the suit and maintained that the two parties are to maintain their status quo until when the case is determined as anything done during the pendency of the suit shall be of no consequence upon the determination of the suit. Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned till 29th August 2022 for hearing.