From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A socio-political group, Aniocha/Oshimili People’s Mandate, has advised the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Ngozi Okolie, to drop the appeal against the judgment of the tribunal that disqualified him.
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba had on Monday sacked Okolie on the grounds that he was properly nominated by the Labour Party and that he did not resign from his position as a public office holder.
The tribunal, in a judgment, declared a former Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election.
Reacting, the group made up of professionals and businessmen across Aniocha/Oshimili, asserted that the judgment of the tribunal was fair and well-received by the majority of the people in the area.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairman, Uzoma Okoh; secretary, Michael Monye; and director of publicity, David Awil said the judgment was consistent with the rule of law and should be accepted by all in the interest of the people.
The group noted the judgment of the tribunal is “a well-founded, sound and intelligent display of jurisprudence which can withstand every legal contestation” and urged Okolie to accept the verdict in good faith and see it as an act of God.
“As a non-partisan group committed only to the interest of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili, we have thoroughly studied and reviewed the judgment and we found that it cannot be faulted as it is completely consistent with the rule of law.
“It is on this premise, that we urge our brother, Okolie to drop all moves towards the Appeal Court. We believe that time and resources should not be wasted in that direction. Rather we call on Hon. Okolie as a true son of Aniocha/Oshimili to submit to the judgment as an act of God who gives power and show his usual statesmanship by supporting Hon. Elumelu in moving our federal constituency forward for the good of the people,” they said.
The group commended Elumelu, for extending hands of fellowship to his opponent and urged him to design ways they can work together for the benefit of the people irrespective of their party difference, adding that the “ultimate pursuit of all must be the good of the people.”