Ruling On Oguta Constituency Seat Tussle Excites PDP

The Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South East Zone,

Chief Austin Akobundu, said the party was happy with the Orlu High Court ruling on Oguta constituency seat tussle.

He said the decision of the court to strike out the case restraining the Speaker of Imo House of Assembly, Mr Ben Uwajidgmogu from swearing-in the member-elect Chief Eugene Dibiagwu of the PDP, was apt.

Akobundu in a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, said the ruling had vindicated the party and affirmed the belief of Nigerians in the judiciary.

He also commended the maturity exhibited by the Oguta people during the crisis, describing them as peace loving people worthy of emulation.

“I want to thank the judiciary for standing up for the truth”, he stated.

He urged the party’s supporters in Imo to be steadfast, responsible and law abiding.

According to him, the party is making strategies to win the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Akobundu called on the speaker of the state assembly to respect the ruling of the court by swearing-in Dibiagwu.

Our correspondent recalls that Mr Walter Uzonwunne, the candidate of the All Progressive Grans Alliance (APGA) had sought for a restraining order of the court to stop Dibiagwu from being sworn in as a member of the assembly.

Uzonwunne was contesting the declaration of Dibiagwu as the winner of the August 11 bye-election for the constituency by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The court, presided by Justice A.K. Orjiako, on September 7 struck out the application for lack of jurisdiction.