By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The battle over who won the Imo North Senatorial election is now one court away from resolution.
The primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) produced two candidates – Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Mr. Frank Ibezim, who both laid claim to the party’s ticket.
Prior to the election, the courts ruled against both of them.
While the court ruled that Araraume did not win the primaries, another ruled that Ibezim was not qualified to contest based on certificate forgery and false age declaration.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC winner of the election without a credible candidate.
On Friday the Supreme Court affirmed Ibezim the candidate and threw out Araraume’s appeal.
But celebration in the camp of Ibezim, following Friday’s Supreme Court decision axing Ararume, has been cut short less than 24 hours with the Court of Appeal in Abuja upholding his disqualification as the candidate of the APC in the last by-election in Imo North Senatorial District.
The appellate court in a unanimous judgement by a three-man panel, on Saturday, upheld the December 4, 2020 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for cheating on his age.
Ekwo, had in the suit filed by Asomugha Tony Eleneke, disqualified Ibezim for making a false claim about his age and educational credentials in the documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Stephen Adah, who read the judgment on Saturday, said the finding of the trial Federal High Court was unassailable to warrant any interference by the Court of Appeal.
He proceeded to dismiss the appeal by Ibezim, affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court, and declined to award cost.
