On Wednesday, Mrs. Chioma Nweze, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Development for the South-East region, urged the governorship candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Odoh, to drop their lawsuits against Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi State.
Recall that Governor Nwifuru had been brought before the election petition tribunal in Abuja by the two rivals, Odii and Odoh.
According to OBASANJO NEWS24, the three-person tribunal panel chaired by Justice Leken Ogunmoye determined that the petitioners Odoh and Odii had failed to establish that Nwifuru was still a PDP member at the time of his candidature for governor in the March 18 governorship election.
The petitions against Nwifuru were dismissed by Justice Ogunmoye for lack of merit after further ruling that the petitioners lacked locus standi to bring the action because it was an APC internal matter.
In response, shortly after Nwifuru’s victory, Nweze gave the two petitioners instructions to end their legal battles and work with the Governor to improve good governance in the State in a statement signed and given to newsmen in Abakaliki.
She praised the three-member panel for certifying the legitimacy of Ebonyi residents’ ballots.
“It comes as no surprise that the legal system’s unbiased sword tore the bogus petitions to pieces.
She emphasised, “I most fervently urge all contenders to eat humble pie and join forces with you to enable the State to enjoy many more years of progressive governance.”
