By Ukah Dave
The All Progressives Congress APC, Ebonyi State chapter has commended the judiciary for upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by quashing the suit challenging the defection of the state Governor, Chief David Umahi from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC)
The Chairman of the Party in the State Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha who made the commendation in Abakaliki said the judgement was anticipated because the provisions of the constitution on the matter were crystal clear
He appreciated Ebonyi people who first gave the verdict via the polls because of their satisfaction with Governor Umahi's trajectory in Infrastructural development and peace building among communities within and outside the state during his first tenure in office.
A state high court sitting in Abakaliki had on Monday dismissed a suit by the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 general election, Senator Sonny Ogbuoji who urged the court to sack the governor from office and order that himself(Ogbuoji) be sworn in.
The court presided over by Justice Henry Njoku said the suit lacked merit and awarded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000.00) as damages against the plaintiff.
The judge noted that defection was not one of the grounds for removal of a governor in the constitution.
Chief Okoro Emegha said "In all honesty, for the right thinking citizens like us who participated in the last General Election especially from Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state where coincidentally I and the plaintiff Chief Sunny Ogbuorji hail from, we all knew that the electorate voted massively for Governor David Umahi because of his achievements in his first tenure".
Describing the suit as frivolous and exercise in futility, the APC Chairman said although the court action has never in anyway distracted the Governor from focusing in delivering good governance to the people of the state re-echoed the determination of present administration to rather do more to stimulate all round development for the benefit of all.
"The verdict has reaffirmed the saying that the judiciary is truly the last hope of the common man. It has also given more strengthen and hope to the Nigerian people that the judiciary is still very strong and unbiased"
"There were never a time the matter distracted the Governor because on several occasions he reassured the people of the state that all the ongoing projects will be completed before he bows out of office in 2023. My Principal is focused and ever determined to leave office as the best Governor in history of the country". Chief Emegha emphasized.
" To the family of the ruling APC, this is a welcome development. The battle is over and the Governor still remains the number citizen of the state. He has a convenant with God to rapidly develop the state and it's inhabitants. However, in the spirit of sportsmanship the plaintiff who is now an integral part of the party cannot even appeal the judgement because there were overwhelming evidence that the suit lacked merit as read out by the presiding judge. Before the ruling, there were stories that he wanted to withdraw the matter"
Post a Comment