By Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which upheld its State Executive in Anambra State ahead of the November 6, 2021 elections in that state.
The PDP’s statement was contained in a press statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan
Ologbodiyan described the judgement as victory for democracy and the majority of the people of Anambra state who are fully rallying with the PDP and her governorship candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, in their quest to entrench a purposeful government in the state.
“This ruling gives us comfort that the PDP and our candidate, Valentine Ozigbo are on the right side of justice because the judgment that has just been set aside is the superstructure upon which certain individuals who did not participate in our primary are seeking to distract our party and the people of Anambra state ahead of the election.
“With this ruling, the PDP is confident of justice in other matters pending in court, and urges our teeming members and supporters to remain united in our determination to work with the people of Anambra to achieve their aspiration which they have vested in our party and candidate, especially as we set to commence a robust campaign in Anambra State.” Ologbondiyan noted.
In the same vein, the Valentine Ozigbo Campaign Organisation has hailed the ruling of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division delivered in the case of PDP vs Samuel Anyakorah & ORS.
VCO noted that the appeal was against the judgment of Justice Adeniyi of FCT High Court delivered on the June 9, 2021 wherein the court, against the earlier and subsisting judgment of Honourable Justice Musa of the same FCT High Court, recognised Samuel Anyakorah and his group as the valid executive committee of the party in Anambra state.
Valentine Ozigbo Campaign Organization said that three man panel of Justices led by Honourable Justice Ada upturned the decision of Justice Adeniyi, for, among other reasons, the lack of territorial jurisdiction to hear and determine a matter which cause of action arose in Anambra State, that is beyond the territorial boundaries of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“This ruling gives us comfort that our party, the PDP is on the side of justice and that justice will prevail in the other matters before the courts with regards to the candidacy of Valentine Ozigbo and the primary conducted by the National Working Committee of our party,” the statement signed by Aziza Uko, the Media Advisor of the VCO Campaign Organisation read.
“Valentine Ozigbo is grateful for all the support and encouragement, and goodwill he has received since he won the primary, especially from people of Anambra State, PDP Governors, and the leadership of the party at ward, local government, state and national levels.
“We are resolute in our resolve to actualise our grand vision to rescue Ndi Anambra from the abysmal All Grand Progressives Alliance (APGA) government come November.
“PDP remains the only platform positioned to take power from APGA and we are confident that soon all litigations will be left in the past and we will march in our quest to deliver positive transformation to the people of Anambra,” the statement ended.
In the judgement delivered on July 19, 2021, Nwabunike had ruled that Ugochukwu Uba was the governorship candidate of the PDP, based on the judgement of Justice Adeniyi delivered on June 9, 2021, and had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the former senator’s name.