By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, December 4, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to as a matter of urgency, disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the Imo North Senatorial bye-election scheduled to hold on Saturday December 5, arguing that APC has no candidate for the election.
In a press statement signed by the secretary of the party in the State, Nze Raymond Emeana, the PDP noted that in the Court of Appeal ruling on Friday December 4, 2020, Sir Frank Ibezim was affirmed as the authentic candidate of the APC in the Imo North Senatorial bye-election which effectively ended the hopes of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.
But in another judgement by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja same Friday, December 4, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/1229/2020 between ASOMUGHA TONY ELEBEKE vs FRANK IBEZIM and others, the Honourable Court held that Hon. Frank Ibezim who was the first candidate whose name was duly submitted by the national leadership of the APC was not qualified for the election.
Following the disqualification of Ibezim by the judgement and the Appeal Court judgement against Ararume, PDP said it, therefore, follows that the APC has no candidate for the Imo North Senatorial bye-election.
According to PDP, “The position of our Courts is very clear in a plethora of cases especially the recent case between DUOYE DIRI vs DAVID LYON in the Bayelsa gubernatorial election, that once a party submits the name of an unqualified candidate for elections, such party ceases to have a candidate for the elections.
“In the instant case where the Federal High Court has disqualified Mr. Frank Ibezim on the grounds of fake or discrepancies in his personal records or credentials, the APC ceases to have a candidate for the Imo North Senatorial bye-election.
“Having fielded an unqualified candidate, the APC stands disqualified and cannot even amend or substitute its candidate having not been qualified ab-initio as you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand.
“The Peoples Democratic Party therefore will resist any attempt to panel-beat an already void nomination via substitution or replacement.
“Finally we urge the people of Okigwe Zone to flatly reject the confused APC party as they have no candidate for tomorrow’s election. Any vote for APC tomorrow is wasted vote.”
The opposition party said that it will stand with the good people of Okigwe zone as they go out to vote for the credible PDP candidate, Chief Emma Okewulonu to represent them at the Senate come December 5, 2020.
