Other respondents in the suit filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, are Prof. Gregory Ibe and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking to ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER, the lawyer that filed the suit on behalf of Uztaz SAN, Barrister George Uwalaka stated that General Ijioma does not accept the May 29 gubernatorial primary of APGA held in Kolping society, in Umuahia.
The lawyer maintained that the gubernatorial primary was not transparent and Ijioma’s mandate was stolen from him.
“one of his major prayers is that his mandate should be returned to him; that APGA stole his mandate from him, premised on the processes that led to the outcome of the election. If the processes were transparent, he would have been declared the winner” Uwalaka said.
He stated that though he would not like to preempt the court, he is confident that Ijioma will win the case based on the reasons he has adduced.
The barrister alleged that the party chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere lured Ijioma out during the gubernatorial primary, creating room for delegates to be infiltrated.
“that goes a long way to show that APGA in it self were partisan in that primary” he added.
Recall that Prof. Gregory Ibe was declared winner of the APGA gubernatorial primary to become the party’s candidate for the 2023 election having polled 283 votes.
Other aspirants polled the following; Etigwe Uwa SAN -148 votes, Sir Chikwe Udensi – 12 votes, while Gen. Ijioma N. Ijioma Rtd – 36 votes.
Gen. ijioma had in a statement, refused the election process/result which he described as “rigging and manipulation taken too far”.
While reacting to the legal move taken by General Ijioma N. Ijioma Rtd, APGA Abia State Secretary General Elder Sunday Onukwubiri, advised the General to retrace his step. He revealed that General Ijioma had promised that he will support any candidate that emerges during the primaries and wondered why the General will head to court now against the party.
“This is freest and fairest governorship primaries APGA has organized in Abia State. The primary was streamed live, we had over 20 journalist present all through the process, General Ijioma was there all throughout the process, so going to court is not the right decision now. I remember General promised to support any candidate that emerges in a free and fair primaries” he states.
Onukwudiri went further to reveal that even if the decision of the court favours General Ijioma, the next person in line will be Etigwe Uwa SAN that came second and not the Ijioma.
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