The Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has distanced itself from the plans by its nullified candidate in the November election, Senator Andy Uba to appeal the ruling which voided his candidacy.
Recall that a High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Inyang Ekwo had on Monday nullified Uba’s candidacy, insisting that the primary election that produced him was not valid.
Uba’s campaign organization had in a statement shortly after the court’s ruling said he will appeal the decision.
But a press release by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Okelo Madukaife said the party was not a party to such an appeal.
Madukaife said: “Our great party is compelled to distance itself from a wilful foray into avoidable contempt of the court by official impersonators who are supposed to be learned men but are led by the nose by a pretender candidate.
“We state for the avoidance of doubt that APC has not issued any statement against the considered judgment of Federal High Court 6, Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo.
While we grant anyone affected by the judgement the right to notify the public of his, her or their intention to appeal, it should be sufficient for such intention to be registered by the individual or his private assign.”
The statement further accused one Chukwunonso Chinwuba of impersonation, while dissociating the party from a press statement from Chinwuba, in which he had said the party in Anambra was unhappy about the high court ruling.
“Our great party regrets that we are at the unfortunate point where our party can be stripped of candidature, by a court of competent jurisdiction, confirming what we have always known for a fact.
“However sad this may be to us, and however depressing it must be to our mood and image, we are mindful that managing this adversity well will lead to a strong and democratic Anambra APC of the future.”
Meanwhile, George Moghalu, an All Progressive Congress Chieftain in Anambra State has hailed the judgement of the Federal High Court, for its ruling on a suit challenging the candidancy of Senator Andy Uba.
Moghalu while reacting to the verdict of the high court in a press statement issued by the Director of his Campaign Organization, Arch Okey Chukwuogo, on Tuesday, described the verdict of the court against Andy Ubah as a clear vindication of the wishes and prayers of the entire members of the party in the state.
The ex-National Auditor of the governing APC also said the judgement was long expected and a vindication of the lamentations of the members of the party over the imposition of an unpopular candidate on the party.
Moghalu posited that Senator Uba has no locus to go to the tribunal to challenge the victory of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo who won the gubernatorial election, and also insisted that the concluded polls were riddled with irregularities.
His words, “the judgement is expected because nobody sees illegality and calls it legal and fair is fair and it is good to take what belongs to everyone?
“I will be surprised if he goes to the appeal court and what are you appealing for when it is clear that no primary election was conducted in Anambra APC and by the judgement, it means that Andy Uba was not a candidate in the said election.
“He has no locus to go to the election petitions tribunal to challenge the victory of the APGA candidate that win the election which he was not part of and he did not participate in.
“You should also know that the current crisis in the party was as a result of what Andy Uba did and the former state chairman of the party behaved badly by supporting the charade that was described as primary election and the chairman is gone and our party was waxing stronger before the primary election and today we are growing stronger and better and we are poised to return the glory of the party”.
