The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appealed on Friday to former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development Uche Ogah and other disgruntled stakeholders to reconcile with Abia governorship candidate Ikechi Emenike in order to wrest the state from the Peoples Democratic Party. This appeal comes barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court affirmed on Thursday that Emenike is the authentic APC governorship candidate in Abia.
Ogah, who was also a governorship aspirant, had challenged the Court of Appeal’s decision in Abuja that overturned his candidacy. In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Tijanni Abubakar, a five‑member Supreme Court panel held that Ogah’s appeal was without merit. The ruling has intensified the rift between Ogah’s supporters and those of Emenike, a situation the APC fears could jeopardize its chances in the state election.
Addressing journalists on Friday, APC National Welfare Secretary Friday Nwosu urged the warring factions to “sheath their swords” and work for the party’s victory in Abia. He specifically appealed to Ogah to dissolve his political structure and join forces with Emenike. “I thought it wise to speak to you regarding the Supreme Court judgment on the APC primary election for the Abia governorship between Uche Ogah and Ikechi Emenike,” Nwosu said.
He explained that in May 2022 the party conducted primaries nationwide, opting for an indirect delegate primary in Abia. This approach was agreed upon at a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with the State Executive Committee and was implemented after ward and local government congresses elected the delegates. Nwosu noted that, before the primary, a letter surfaced claiming the party leadership had ordered a direct primary; the letter was promptly withdrawn because it had not been approved by the NWC.
On the day of the primary, aspirants and delegates gathered at Chidiebere Park in Umuahia and conducted the indirect election, in which Ikechi Emenike emerged victorious. Ogah, however, organized a direct primary in a small hall at Umuahia Central Stadium, alleging that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the process. This led to multiple litigations within the party, ultimately reaching the Supreme Court.
“We told him that he cannot win an unlawful exercise merely by claiming INEC monitored the primary,” Nwosu said. “Now that the highest court has ruled, we ask him to sheath his sword and merge his structure with ours. He has already taken the matter to the Supreme Court; now it is time for his supporters to join us and ensure we win the upcoming election.”
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