The battle for who should be inaugurated as Senator for Okigwe zone in the National Assembly appears to be an endless war as Senator Ifeanyi Araraume is playing “never say die” against his opponent.
A battle for the ticket of APC and eventual winner of the Okigwe zone election has been on since date for the election was released by INEC after the former occupier Senator Ben Uwajumogu died.
Despite last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling which dashed Senator Araraume’s hope of returning to the Senate a record third time, and lifted obstacles against his major challenger, Frank Ibezim, the two time Senator who represented the zone in the past is still battling to get INEC recognition.
From what Trumpeta gathered, Araraume has written to INEC through his lawyer, Ahmed Raji who claims that the Supreme Court judgment does not invalidate the orders Federal High Court had made in his favour in earlier judgments.
According to Araraume “Although the Supreme Court in it’s judgement in Appeal No: SC/183/2021, between Chukwuma Francis Ibezim v Asomugha Tony Ebeleke and 3 ors and Appeal No: SC/182/2021 between APC v Asomugha Tony Ebeleke and 3 ors delivered on the 16th day of April, 2021, set aside the judgement of Court of Appeals, it is imperative to note that the appeals which culminated in the aforesaid Supreme Court judgement did not emanate from the judgement of Hon Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo delivered on the 18th day of March,2021 in a Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1644/2020 between Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume v INEC & 3 ors”.
“Again in its judgement in the aforementioned appeal, the Supreme Court DID NOT in any way or manner declare Chukwuma Francis Ibezim as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the Imo North Senatorial bye election of 5th December, 2020.
“It is absolutely clear that the Supreme Court did not and could not have made any consequential order declaring Chukwuma Francis Ibezim as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the bye election because, unlike Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume, the said Chukwuma Francis Ibezim did not take part in all the stages of the Imo North Senatorial bye election of 5th December, 2020 in line with the combined mandatory positions of sections 285(13) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (Forth Alteration, No. 21) Act 2017 and Sections 141 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)
The statement further states;
“Put differently, it is imperative to state that unless and until the aforementioned valid and subsisting judgment delivered by Hon Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo is set aside by a superior Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission has no alternative than to comply with the said judgment, as the Supreme Court judgments did not, in any way, set aside the said judgment of Taiwo Taiwo J of the Federal High Court, whether factually or by implication”.
“In consequence of the above, we urge the INEC to immediately comply with the aforesaid extant judgment in SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1644/2020 and the orders contained theirein, by issuing Form EC8E and a Certificate of Return to our Client, Senator Godwin Ifeanyi Araraume without further delays”.
