Court Dismisses Idu’s Petition, Upholds Ekumankama as APC Reps Candidate

By Uchenna Okah, Abakaliki

The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Tuesday dismissed a per-election suit challenging the emergence of former Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election.

The suit, filed by Idu Igariwey, who contested the APC primary election, sought to invalidate Ekumankama’s victory and compel the party to recognize him as its duly nominated candidate for the constituency.

The Nations News reports that the case was instituted against the APC, Ekumankama and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Hilary Ide Oshomah, found no merit in the plaintiff’s case and accordingly dismissed the suit.

Igariwey had prayed the court to restrain the APC and Ekumankama from presenting, sponsoring or recognising the former minister as the party’s candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in the 2027 election.

He also sought an order directing the APC to recognize and publish him as its duly nominated candidate and compelling INEC to accept him as the party’s candidate in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.

However, the court rejected the claims, effectively upholding Ekumankama’s emergence from the APC primary election.

Reacting to the judgment shortly after the proceedings, counsel to Ekumankama, Bar. Roy O. Umahi Nwaeze, SAN, described the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

Nwaeze said the judgment demonstrated the competence and fairness of the judiciary in ensuring that justice prevailed, adding that the decision had further strengthened confidence in the democratic process.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of counsel to the plaintiff, Nnaemeka Victor Nwonu, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.