Ebonyi: Tribunal upholds Gov Nwifuru’s election
* Nwifuru hails judgement upholding his victory
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Governorship elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday upheld the victory of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as validly elected in the March 18 Governorship election.
The tribunal struck out the petitions of the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Benard Odoh and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Odii, for lacking in merit.
The duo had argued that Mr Nwifuru was not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress, but the three-man panel disagreed with the petitioners, ruling that the issues of qualifications and nomination of candidates for elections were pre-election matters which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain.
Reacting to the judgement, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Chikadibia Okpor has Congratulated the State Governor, Nwifuru, on his victory at the Governorship Tribunal.
Engr Okpor who was elated at the outcome of the Judgement on Wednesday, said Nwifuru’s triumph at the Tribunal was not only a victory for the collective will of the people but also a vocal expression of people’s goodwill as their yearn for progress.
The Information boss maintained that the Tribunal’s position was a victory for all who reposed confidence on Governor Nwifuru, and what he could achieve for the state and humanity as Governor of Ebonyi State.
He said: “When God ordains, no man dares cast down! This victory holds answers for doubting thomases who question your avowed position that power belongs to God. No man is God. The judgement equally puts such a distraction aside.
“I congratulate the judiciary for standing as the hope of the people; by rising to their constitutional mandate, democracy has today been defended. Our trust in the ability of the Nigerian Judiciary to stand firm in defense of the sanctity of the ballot box at all times has never waned. The mandate of the majority has prevailed.
“I hereby call on our well-respected brothers; Dr Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, the AGPA candidate and Chief Ifeanyi Odii of the PDP who have ventilated their legitimate rights in the tribunal thus far to exhibit sportsmanship by accepting the well-researched judgement of the revered Justices in the interest of peace and development of our dear state. Ebonyians expect them to demonstrate patriotism by joining hands with our people-oriented and purpose-driven leader to take Ebonyi State to greater heights”
Meanwhile ,Governor Nwifuru has lauded the judgement of the election petitions tribunal for upholding his Victory.
Nwifuru made his feelings known on Wednesday while Speaking with Journalists at Conference room, governor’s office, Abakaliki.
The Governor thanked the judiciary for remaining the last hope of the common man.
He dedicated his victory to God and to the people of Ebonyi State.
He called on his challengers to drop further litigations and join hands with him to develop Ebonyi State.
Mr Nwifuru said he was overwhelmingly elected by the people of the State and was optimistic no amount of litigations would thwart the will of the people.
Recall that the Ebonyi State Governorship elections petition tribunal sitting in Abuja on Wednesday upheld the victory of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as validly elected in the March 18 Governorship election.
The tribunal struck out the petitions of the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Benard Odoh and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Odii, for lacking in merit.
The duo had argued that Mr Nwifuru was not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress, but the three-man panel disagreed with the petitioners, ruling that the issues of qualifications and nomination of candidates for elections were pre-election matters which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain.
