The Chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, yesterday commended the judiciary over its verdict on the suit challenging Governor David Umahi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
Sen. Sunny Ogbuoji, of the APC who contested the 2019 governorship election in the State and lost, had dragged the governor and his deputy to the State High Court, praying that the court declares their seats vacant since they left PDP under which they were elected to join the APC. He also asked that he- Ogbuoji be declared the winner of the 2019 governorship election in the State since he came second during the election.
But the court presided over by Justice Henry Njoku, quashed the suit and even awarded N500, 000 damages against the plaintiff.
Chief Emegha who said the judgement was anticipated because the provisions of the constitution on the matter were crystal clear, 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.
“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,” he stated.
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 the present administration to rather do more to stimulate all round development for the benefit of all.
Adding; “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 covenant 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”
Emegha, also used the opportunity to canvass more support to help the Governor who has made Ebonyi State to take the center stage as the fastest developing state in the country in actualizing his dreams especially, that of becoming the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023 so that the entire country can enjoy the aura of his talented leadership ingenuity and sagacity.