Women groups knock Umahi over suspension of senatorial aspirant by Ebonyi APC

About 278 women rights groups and Civil Society Organisations have faulted the suspension of a senatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone, Ann Agom-Eze.

The groups also alleged Agom-Eze’s life has been under threat and harassment since the contest for the seat began.

The APC in the state had suspended Agom-Eze for alleged anti-party activities.

She had scored the second highest votes in the first APC primary for the Ebonyi South District, which was won by Governor David Umahi’s younger brother, Austin.

But the party cancelled the primary and held a second one, which Governor Umahi won after the brother withdrew.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to recognise Umahi, prompting the governor to sue INEC at the Federal High Court in Abakaliki.

Agom-Eze applied and was promptly granted leave by the court to join the suit. In her prayers, she urged the court to declare her the authentic candidate of the party.

A statement signed on behalf of the groups by the Convener of Womenifesto, Abiola Akintoye-Afolabi, yesterday, the organisations condemned the unjust expulsion, intimidation, oppression, threat to life and victimisation of Agom-Eze.

The organisation said: “Every citizen of Nigeria has the right to elect and be elected into any elective position; it is not the exclusive preserve of a selected few or a particular gender. Women and girls in Nigeria continue to face an unprecedented set of challenges in political participation.

“Despite the push by women groups coalitions, as well as civil society organisations in Nigeria to remove systematic barriers that hold women back from equal participation in political leadership, the historic event that led to the expulsion of Agom-Eze evidence the rising pushback against the hard-won gains for women’s political rights.