A five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Ekekere-Ekun dismissed an appeal filed by an aggrieved senatorial candidate, Princess Ann Agom-Eze, in a unanimous decision.

The panel concluded that the appeal lacked merit and should be dismissed.

Agom-Eze had asked the court to overturn the concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, both of which upheld the outcome of the primary election that produced Governor Umahi.

Mrs Agom-eze had emerged second in the initial senatorial primary the APC held on May 28, which was won by Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Governor Umahi.

However, after Governor Umahi failed in his bid to clinch the presidential ticket of the APC, his younger brother was said to have voluntarily relinquished the senatorial ticket to him.

Not satisfied with the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said it would not recognize his candidacy.

Following a suit that was filed by Mrs Agom-Eze, a Federal High Court sitting at Abakaliki nullified Governor Umahi’s candidacy and ordered that a fresh primary election should be conducted within two weeks.

As a result of the court ruling, the APC held a second primary election on July 31, which Governor Umahi won.

The appellant, who was dissatisfied with the party’s decision to hold a new primary election, went to court to obtain a restraining order.

Both the High Court and the appellate court dismissed the suit, finding no reason to invalidate the outcome of the second primary election.

The Supreme Court upheld the primary election and affirmed Governor Umahi’s candidacy in its decision on Friday.