From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Labour Party ( LP) candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, in the 2023 general elections, Frank Chinasa, has said he would not challenge the judgement of the Abia State Elections Petition affirming the election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
Chinasa, who spoke at a press briefing, in Abuja, on Friday, said though the tribunal judgment was against his expectation, he has waived his right to take his case to the Court of Appeal, in the overall interest of the federal constituency and the Igbo nation.
The LP candidate noted he appreciates the fact, even if he were to win the election petition in court, he may not possibly emerge as deputy speaker of the House, noting that would have caused the South East the conveted position.
He said “while everyone expects me to journey up to the appellate court in the struggle, I am here to inform the world that I am no longer interested in taking the matter any further beyond the tribunal. This simply means that I have decided to let go of the case.
“As easily as this may sound, let me say that it wasn’t a decision made just on the heels of the tribunal’s judgement. No. It was rather a resolution taken out of brotherly love and sheer understanding of our common root and patrimony-the Bende heritage.
“At this juncture, it must be unequivocally stated that my decision to run for this election, abinitio, was to give our federal constituency the quality representation that it deserves, judging from the poor and under-representation that has bedeviled it over years. But here comes a young man who in his first term tried to elevate fortunes of the constituency. And now is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The number 6 citizen in the political hierarchy of this great country-Nigeria.
“Gentlemen of the Forth Estate of the Realm, if this is not a huge blessing to our constituency, then, tell me what it is.
I have come to reason that if highly revered people, elders from our State, the south east region and indeed, Nigeria will celebrate Ben and applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire members of the Green Chambers of the National Assembly for giving Ndigbo such an position, why then, should his immediate brothers from the same constituency be seen to be the ones pulling him down?
“This does not make any sense in any conceivable way! But then, let this not be misconstrued to mean that my going to the tribunal was wrong in the first place. No! I want to categorically submit that it was well within my democratic and constitutional rights and privileges. And even Ben should understand that. What now matters is that we have eventually allowed wisdom and brotherly love to win.”
Chinasa further stated that “Of course, I already know that many quarters will feel jolted and offended by this decision. I hereby appeal to all men of goodwill with saner democratic credentials to understand that if even I win the matter in court, I may not possibly become the deputy speaker. The import of this is that I would have wasted a golden opportunity for Ndi Bende, Ndi Abia and Ndigbo as a whole. Besides, let’s not also forget that ultimately, God gives power.”