Maduako Igbokwe I Friday, August 11, 2023
UMUAHIA – Abia State governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the 2023 election, Prof Gregory Ibe has congratulated Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on the recent reaffirmation of his electoral victory by the court of appeal.
The candidate of Labour Party, Mr Chinedu Onyeizu had filed a suit at the Owerri branch of the Court Appeal, challenging the victory of Senator Abaribe at the February 25 National Assembly election.
The Court of Appeal demised his application and reaffirmed that Abaribe won the election.
Prof Ibe in a statement by his Media Aide Rev Sleek Ogwo lauded the judiciary for reconfirming the mandate of Senator Abaribe given to him by his people during the election.
” This is definitely a victory for the masses and I want to specially salute the judiciary for doubly reaffirming the mandate freely given to Distinguished Senator Abaribe by the good people of Abia South Senatorial District” he said .
He therefore encouraged the petitioner,Mr Onyeizu to graciously accept the verdict of the appellate court in the spirit of sportsmanship in order to allow senator Abaribe concentrate on the task of legislation without avoidable distraction.
” It is against the backdrop of the triple victories secured by Senator Abaribe at polling, election tribunal and the appellate court that I want to specially appeal to my brother Mr Onyeizu to, in the spirit of sportsmanship, sheath the sword and allow our distinguished Senator concentrate on the job of robust legislation without distractions” Ibe said .
He also charged Senator Abaribe “to be magnanimous in victory by extending the proverbial right hand of fellowship to the petitioner while being re-energized by the recent verdict to recommit himself to the onerous task of offering quality people-oriented representation as copiously envisaged by the APGA political philosophy”.
It would be recalled that sequel to the outcome of the February 25 Senatorial election in Abia South, Mr Chinedu Onyeizu, who contested the ballot under the banner of Labour Party, had approached the election petition tribunal seeking nullification of Senator Abaribe’s victory on grounds of alleged irregularities. Failing to obtain the relief sought, he subsequently chose to advance the matter to the court of appeal.
