THE ABIA PDP ASSERTS THAT THE COURT HAS REJECTED IGWE’S APPEAL.

Babatunji Wusu –

The appeal Mr. Okey Igwe made to have Dr. Jasper Uche removed as Sir Okey Ahiwe’s running mate in the March 2023 governorship election in Abia State was rejected by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
This was declared by Abraham Amah, the Abia PDP’s vice chairman and acting state publicity secretary, in a statement issued yesterday.

Igwe lost his election bid because Prof. Uchenna Ikonne, a previous PDP candidate, passed away on January 25, 2023. Ikonne was Igwe’s running companion.

Following a new party primary on February 4, Ahiwe, the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, chose Uche as his running mate rather than Igwe.

But angry, Igwe went to court to ask to be reinstated as the candidate’s running mate.

Abia PDP referred to the ruling by the appellate court as a “victory for Abia PDP, Okey Ahiwe, and Jasper Uche” in the statement.

“In dismissing the case, the Appeal Court ordered Igwe to pay the sum of N500,000 as litigation expenses to the Abia PDP, Sir Okey Ahiwe, and Dr. Jasper Uche,” it read.

Okey Igwe’s appeal came as a result of an Abuja High Court ruling that had earlier dismissed his lawsuit against the PDP, Ahiwe, and Dr. Uche over his replacement as the new PDP candidate’s running partner.

“The victory at the Appeal Court is not only a victory for the parties concerned but also a victory for the good people of Abia, the entire Abia PDP, and for democracy because it demonstrates that the legal system continues to be the sole defender of our system of government.”

Amah asserts that the Abia PDP “knows those behind this litigation in their desperate attempt to undercut the merit of the Abia PDP claim before the Abia Governorship Election claim Tribunal.

“Because we are confident in the Tribunal’s ability to uphold the rule of law, we are aware that their intentions would be unsuccessful.

“We congratulate the Abia PDP on this significant victory at the Court of Appeal, as well as Sir Okey Ahiwe, Dr. Jasper Uche, and other persons of good will.

“We call upon the good people of Abia and the PDP members to remain resolute, steadfast and eternally vigilant in our pursuit of justice and democracy.”