By Bimbo Ogunnaike
The Court of Appeal Chaired by R.A Ada, sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has affirmed the victory of Rochas Okorocha, as the Senator representing Imo West senatorial district.
Ada, who read the judgment explained that the appeals filed by Senator Osita Izunaso of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)and Jones Onyereri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Okorocha lacked merit.
The jurist contended that the judgment of the lower court (Tribunal) which upheld Okorocha’s election was in order.
The panel said that the petitioners could not prove their allegations of violence, over-voting, mutilation of electoral results and hijacking of electoral officers.
The justice said that the petitioners could not prove the allegation of duress as the returning officer alleged.
Okorocha had on February 23 defeated Onyereri and Izunaso but the returning officer alleged that he declared Okorocha winner under duress.
The former governor of the state, in a statement shortly after a Court of Appeal ruled in his favour, affirmed his election, said that the Nigerian judiciary is a blessing to the country’s democracy.
He called on the duo Izunaso and Onyereri to join him to deliver the dividends of democracy to Imo West people.
“The former governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has said that his victory at the Appeal Court is for his two brothers, Hon Jones Onyeriri and Senator Osita Izunaso, candidates of PDP and APGA respectively, in the Imo West Senatorial District election, who had challenged his victory up to the Appeal Court.” the statement reads.
“Senator Okorocha also said that his Appeal Court victory is equally for the good people of Imo West Senatorial District and indeed, Imo people in general, who he said, have remained supportive irrespective of their political affiliations, adding that the Appeal Court judgement has also added fibre to the nation’s democracy, because like the tribunal, the Appeal Court was able to detach blackmail from the home truth.
“Barely one month after the National Assembly Election Tribunal had authenticated the election victory of the distinguished senator, the Appeal Court on Thursday, November 7, 2019 (today), also upheld the judgement of the tribunal in favour of the former governor.
“Okorocha described the judiciary as a blessing to the nation’s democracy and said that he would remain thankful to the judiciary for playing a leading role in deepening the nation’s democracy and its ethos.
The former governor, who assured that he would continue to use God-given positions to serve God and humanity. praised his two brothers, Senator Izunaso and Onyeriri for their maturity and for being good sons of Orlu zone and appealed to them to share the joy of the moment with him, for the good of Orlu zone people in particular and Imo people in general.
