Bianca thrown a lifeline as Abuja high court nullifies Apga's Anambra South Senatorial primaries

BIANCA Ojukwu may still get a shot at becoming a senator next year when Nigeria goes to the polls after an Abuja high court nullified the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (Apga) primaries in the Anambra South Senatorial District.

In the keenly contested primary held at the Ekwulobia township stadium in Aguata on October 3, Bianca, the widow of Apga founder Emeka Ojukwu, polled 177 votes to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s 211. In the run-up to the election, Ikemba Ojukwu's children had opposed Bianca's candidacy, saying it would not be proper to allow a woman from Ngwo, in Enugu State, to represent Anambra South Senatorial District.

Following her loss, Bianca warned that Apga will suffer for not selecting her as its candidate as many members could leave and voters could turn their backs on the party. However, it now appears she has been given a lifeline after a Federal Capital territory high court nullified the primary, as well as the party’s ticket issued to Prince Ukachukwu.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by an aggrieved aspirant, Dr Okey Chidolue, Justice Valentine Ashi, agreed with the plaintiff that the primary was marred by irregularities and was conducted in disregard to the relevant provisions of the Nigerian constitution, the Electoral Act and the party’s electoral guidelines. However, the judgment fell short of ordering a fresh primary or asking Dr Chidolue to take over as the authentic candidate of the party for the senatorial election.

In his judgement, the judge faulted the party’s claim that Prince Ukachukwu was elected through an electoral college that comprised three delegates from each of the wards in the senatorial district. Justice Ashi noted that Apga failed to produce the names of the delegates that participated in the exercise.

He also noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (Inec) claim before the court that the party refused to furnish it officials on the ground with the list of the delegates, was further  proof that the election was fraudulent. It is now unclear with Apga will do but it is likely that Bianca may go to court demanding that the party holds fresh primaries.

Justice Ashi ruled: “The question to be asked here is this, if the defendants were certain that they were using the legitimate list of delegates, why did they have to hide it from Inec officials? In totality, the defendants’ case is so weak that it has only helped to strengthen the plaintiff’s case.”

High profile and widely respected, Bianca, was once Miss Nigeria and has served as Nigeria's ambassador to both Spain and Ghana. Describing the primary exercise as horrible, Bianca, however, appealed to Apga members not to quit the party, saying that was not the solution to the problem.

On the day of the elections, there was a heavy shooting at the venue of the primaries, which disrupted proceedings for a while before order was restored. Although Bianca  had the support of one of the richest men in Anambra State Dr Godwin Maduka and former Imo State governor Ikedi Ohakim, she still lost the election.