The Chairman, All Progressives Congress APC in Ebonyi State Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha has commended the Ebonyi judiciary for upholding the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by quashing the suit challenging the defection of the state Governor, David Umahi from the People’s Democratic Party PDP to All Progressives Congress APC with an intention for him to vacate office alongside his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe.
The party chieftain gave the commendation after the court presided over by justice Henry Njoku gave the verdict in Abakakili. He described the suit as lacking in merit and awarded Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) as damages against the plaintiff.
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” Emegha said.
While describing the suit as frivolous and an exercise in futility, the APC Chairman said the court action has never in anyway distracted the Governor from focusing in delivering good governance to the people of the state.
He re-echoed the determination of the 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 strength 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” 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 one 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” he added.
The Ebonyi APC Chairman Stanley Okoro Emegha used the opportunity to canvass for more support to help the Governor who has made Ebonyi take the center stage as the fastest developing state in the country to actualise his dreams especially 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.
Emmanuel Ukoh
