The southern senatorial district candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Daniel Asuquo has appealed the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to remove his name as one of those contesting the seat in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
The lawmaker, Mr. Asuquo, who currently represents Akamkpa – Biase Federal Constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, was sacked as the Labour Party southern senatorial district candidate on Wednesday October 26, 2022 by Justice A. R. Muhammed.
The former Commissioner for Finance in Cross River, Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong (Junior), who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, contesting for the same seat had filed a suit against the Labour Party, INEC, Mr. Daniel Asuquo and two others on allegation that LP did not follow due process in conducting the senatorial primary.
Speaking to journalists at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the lawmaker stated, “it has been brought to my notice that a few people have been misinforming the public about the outcome of the last judgement given by the Federal High Court Abuja.”
Asuquo further explained, “it is also on record that the judge gave a ruling based on the available evidence before the court. It is normal that when such judgements are given, you have to accept because I am a democrat and law abiding citizen.”
According to him, “it is a known norm that a person either accepts the judgement or appeal. The Labour Party, the presidential candidate, Dr. Peter Obi and I looked at the judgement and we completely disagree with the judgement. We seek for relief from a higher court, which is the Court of Appeal.
“Let it be on notice that it is only when there is no relief from the Court of Appeal or any other court of higher jurisdiction that you can say I am not a candidate. So, as at today I am still the candidate of the Labour Party,” he stated.
Sending a message to other contestants for the senatorial seat on other political platforms, the Labour Party southern senatorial district candidate said, “for my opponents, who believe that their day is made because ‘Dansuki’ (as Daniel Asuquo is popularly called) is not contesting have to do more work than that.”
He argued that providing democratic dividend goes beyond deploying what he described as back stage tactics to win the mandate of the people at the general election, stating “it is unfortunate that these new comers into this our business think that the tactics is to use back hand tactics.
“I hear that the two parties are celebrating but I want to assure the southern senatorial district electorate that their mandate will surely be achieved and delivered through me at the appropriate time,” Asuquo assured.
Earlier, the state chairman of Labour Party, Mr. Ogar Osim told journalists that Asuquo was validly nominated, noting “we followed the law, we did our primaries in accordance with the extant laws.”
N.O
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