The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Monday expressed satisfaction over the ruling of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, in favour of the party’s recognised governorship candidate in the forthcoming general elections, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship candidate of the PDP.
Ugwuanyi defeated Senator Ayogu Eze, a current senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District and Chairman Senate Committee on Works.
Ayogu Eze had urged the court to declare him the truly elected governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, after he was elected by delegates of a parallel faction of the party in the state during the party’s primaries.
He asked the court to declare him the winner, arguing that he was elected by the delegates legally empowered to participate in the party’s primaries in the state.
But in its judgement, the court said it only recognised the faction of the party in which the state governor, sullivan Chime, and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, are members.
The PDP, in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, said it was sure of defeating Senator Ayogu Eze since it followed the provisions in the Electoral Act.
Okey Eze said the party was: “gladdening that the court has vindicated the party and affirmed the candidature of Hon. Ugwuanyi.
“The judiciary, by this verdict has, once more, shown itself as the last hope of the common man and the bulwark of the nation’s democracy.
“We hope that this has finally laid to rest any misgivings and contentions over the December 8, 2014 PDP governorship primary election in Enugu State as we invite our brother, Senator Ayogu Eze, and all former gubernatorial aspirants to join the mass movement for Ugwuanyi’s governorship come May 29, 2015 in the spirit of brotherhood and in the interest of the party and the State.
“The good governance and development of Enugu State are paramount. Democratic governance is a huge responsibility; and there will certainly be prominent roles for all to towards the betterment of our dear state.”
The party used the opportunity to express appreciation to the state governor and leader of the party in the state and the people of the state for their support and resilient while the crisis lingered.
The party urged them to keep a date with the destiny of Enugu State on March 28, 2015 and April 11, 2015 when they should “troupe out en masse to vote for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Hon. Ugwuanyi as President and their next Governor, respectively, in the spirit of continuity and consolidation.”
