INEC VS ARARAUME: COURT GRANTS OHAKIM'S REQUEST TO JOIN CASE

A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, on Friday, 19^th October, 2012 granted the request of former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim to be joined as an interested party in the suit filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the May 6, 2011 supplementary election held in Imo State.

The Supplementary election was won by Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Araraume is challenging the validity of the supplementary election, arguing that it is alien to the nation’s electoral books. On this score, the ACN candidate is asking the Court to fully interpret the legality of the Supplementary polls since it is strange to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ohakim is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  He had sought to join the matter on the basis that he was not only part of the polls, but placed second in the supplementary polls.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) - Governor Okorocha’s party- had asked the Court not to grant Ohakim’s prayer.