ENONE APC PRIMARY CRISIS: Agom, party, INEC submit conflicting results in court

…As Justice Ekwo fixes October 28 for judgment

The crisis surrounding the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, otherwise known as Enone, has taken a fresh turn following the presentation of conflicting results before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.

IDOMA VOICE reports that the development emerged in a suit instituted by Okoriko Abah, who is challenging the purported emergence of Agom Anthony as the APC candidate for the federal constituency.

Abah had dragged Agom, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the court, maintaining that no primary election was conducted from which Agom could have validly emerged as the party’s candidate.

During proceedings before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, different versions of the result of the purported primary election were reportedly presented before the court by Agom, the APC and INEC.

The development threw up fresh controversy over the exercise, particularly against Abah’s position that no primary election took place.

Counsel to Abah, Barr. John Ochogwu and Barr. Victor Abbas Ochogwu, argued that the conflicting documents presented before the court reinforced their client’s contention over the validity of the purported primary election.

The lawyers maintained that Abah’s case was not merely a dispute over who scored the highest number of votes but a challenge to whether the primary election said to have produced Agom actually took place.

They consequently urged the court to uphold their client’s case and grant the reliefs sought in the suit.

Agom, the APC and INEC, however, presented their respective positions and documents before the court in defence of the disputed primary and its outcome.

The different versions of the result have now become central to the legal battle, with the court expected to determine the validity of the exercise and the documents placed before it.

After hearing submissions from the parties, Justice Ekwo reserved judgment in the matter until October 28, 2026.

The judgment is expected to determine the fate of the APC ticket for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.