Okigwe By-Election: Ibezim Loses Again To Araraume As Court Refuses Stay Of Execution.

Again, Frank Ibezim has lost his legal battle over the APC candidature for the Okigwe Senatorial election slated for December 5, 2020.

Embattled Ibezim who was declared the winner of the APC Primaries was a few weeks ago, removed by the Federal High Court and in his stead, Ararume was put.

The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital has refused to grant stay of execution against Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

 The Court on Friday 6th November 2020 ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to substitute the name of Sir Frank Ibezim with the name of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Imo North Senatorial by election.

On the 10th November 2020, INEC, which is the 2nd defendant in the matter complied with the court order and subsequently published the name of Senator Ararume alongside other candidates. Sir Frank Ibezim who was not a party to the suit from the trial stage and the plaintiff Lady Uche Onyewu Ubah approached the same court for a stay of execution and leave of court to appeal the judgment. After reading the submissions of the learned counsels in the suit, the presiding Judge, Justice Ringim Garba dismissed the application for Stay of execution.

The Judge in his wisdom granted the Intervener applicant the leave of court to appeal while dismissing the stay of execution. At press time, one of the counsels to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Barr. U. M. Isaac said with the judgment his client could go ahead with his campaign since the name had already been listed as the candidate of the party. In the same vein, the counsel to Lady. Chidinma Uwajumogu who is the 4th defendant in the matter, Barr. U. W. Olajide noted that it was their(applicants) constitutional right to appeal an unfavorable judgment but for him to seek for the removal of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and replace with his own is not provided in law. Having not participated in the trial stage, he should first seek the leave of court to be joined in the appeal in order to seek his prayers.