ABUJA — FOLLOWING the refusal of the Appeal Court to grant the prayers of Andy Uba yesterday, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the State hasdescribed the ruling as a vindication of its position to adopt Professor Chukwuma Soludo as its candidate for the February 6,2010 governorship election in Anambra State.
Reacting to the judgment on phone, the National Legal Adviser of PDP, Chief Olusola Oke, who urged Uba to accept the verdict as there were still chances for him to be governor of the state in future, however praised the judiciary for finally laying the issue to rest, just as the party lamented the long time it took which it said had given room for much controversy.
NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor
The National Legal Adviser who stressed that Nigerians could only hope for more courage on the part of the judiciary, said if it had gone the other way, it would have been a monumental embarrassment and damage to the PDP and if as a party, it had failed to nominate a candidate for the election.
According to him, “It sort of put us in a divided disposition. Now that the court has spoken, as far as we are concerned in the PDP, it is acceptable to us. It means we were right in what we were doing. We stand vindicated.”
He however advised Uba not to see the Appeal Court’s decision as personal loss but he should accept it as other opportunities abound for him to serve the country if he still remains a dedicated member of the party. “I would ask him to accept this. He has put up a good fight but the judiciary has spoken. He is still a highly regarded member of our party. In all that he was doing, he was fighting for his rights and not against the PDP. Now that the judiciary has spoken, I expect him to join hands with the party to ensure that we deliver our candidate together.
“There will always be opportunities. He is a highly revered person in Nigeria and there are many levels of service. If he is not going to be governor of Anambra State tomorrow, he can serve at other levels. He should not see it a personal loss because the PDP will also benefit from it,” he added.
Verdict on Uba’s case’ll restore peace to Anambra – CNPP
CNPP National Chairman, Maxi Okwu has commended yesterday’s dismissal of Chief Andy Uba’s case by the Court of Appeal, saying “it is in tune with the wishes of the people of Anambra.The judgment should be appreciated by all true democrats in Nigeria in the interest of politics and peace in Anambra,” Okwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos
The Court of Appeal in Enugu on yesterday dismissed the suit filed by Uba seeking his reinstatement as the duly elected governor of Anambra when the tenure of incumbent Gov. Peter Obi expires in February 2010.
Commenting on the judgment, Dr Olapade Agoro, the national chairman of the National Action Council (NAC), described the court’s verdict as “responsive, wise and commendable”.
Agoro said: “This judgment, if it had been otherwise, could have plunged Anambra and eventually Nigeria into an inferno.”
Also reacting to the judgment, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said that, “the case will be a reference point in the Nigerian polity.”
Aniebonam described the judgment as part of the evolution of true democracy in the country, saying that the due process had been followed to the last.
However, Chief Okey Nwosu, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the party’s candidate in the 2010 Anambra governorship election, urged Uba and other politicians in the state to abstain from any form of acrimony.
“The judgment is what it should be and it should be accepted by all so that Anambra can move forward,” Nwosu said.
…Chukwumerije lauds judgment
Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PPA-Abia) has lauded the Court of Appeal judgment on the application of Chief Andy Uba to assume office as governor of Anambra State in February 2010.
Chukwumerije told newsmen in Enugu that the Appeal Court verdict marked another landslide decision for the salvation of democracy in Nigeria.
“The verdict is a re-assuring signal for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. If the verdict had been otherwise, the result would have been a disaster.
“I thank God for the verdict. I congratulate the Court of Appeal for its steadfast commitment to the judiciary’s sacred role,” he said.
Chukwumerije also congratulated Nigerians for their opinion before the judgment, describing it as “the court of public opinion”.
andy is going to the customary court at okija…this is not the end of it…
What a country? or what do you call a country where injustice to fellow citizens, fellow brothers and sisters is fundamental…What do you call people who are ready to stab you in the back for their own self-aggrandisement. Is it worth being a Nigerian???
This man (Andy Uba) spent time, money (forget about where he got the money from), he spent his hope, his faith, his belief to campaign for an election to serve the people he believed they are one Anambrians; the people he believed they are his Ibo brothers and sisters and fellow Nigerians. And when he was doing this, the Supreme Court did NOT stop him, the institution (INEC) set up to conduct the election did NOT stop him, the learned Anambrans people did not stop him; Nigerian NBA that knows about the law in the country did NOT stop him, the political party which he represented did NOT stop him; Governor Obi and APGA who he was fighting to take power from did NOT him.
The man scaled through the hurdles, won the election, he was sworn him as a GOVERNOR, he ruled the state for 2 weeks, then one supreme court says there was no election or the election shouldn’t had been held???? What do you call people and country like this???
A country where one man won election and the election was annulled, the man was put in prison and died in prison, A country where the Chief law officer was murdered cold bloodedly and to date nothing is done about it. A country where someone contested an election in prison and won…
Is it worth being a Nigerian?.
Now, who will re-inburse Andy Uba for all that he lost, money, hope , faith, belief, and time- before winning the election. And how about millions of Anambarians who voted for the man (or are they NOT Nigerians).
Is worth being a Nigerian???
Why is PDP Vindicated???????????
My anger in this Uba is issue is that my last name is Uba. I am not actually from Uga town in Anambra state but I think the criminal activities of the Uba’s in Uga town has done a great damage to my every othe Uba in Anamabra state. Any of the Ubas should think of changing the last name a better name and I am currently working on that with my entire family. May be Obi will do as long as it is not Uba.
Let me know what you think.
The appeal is a step 1 response to the yearnings of Nigerians for due process in the political circle of the Nigeria state.
Uba you don try, you may go and rest now or ….
Uba, I can simply say sorry, the table had turned other way, OBJ regim is gone and you have gone along with it. I winder, this is someone who supposed to be busy answering EFFC calls, could manage to wrestle law like this. The Professor of The Corrupt Nigeria PLC (Soludo) is just trying to get immunity coverage before his doom’s day bell rings.
Am glad that the Uba’s [ Andy and Chris ] have finally kissed the dust.
@MUSA No he should go to ecowas court. Remember one of his brother by name Jerry Ugokwe once did that.
Has the Chair of the CNPP Changed Hands?
Since when has Maxwell Okwu become the national chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP)? Have we got two CNPP or has he been purchased by the PDP to throw spanner in the works of the opposition in the country? Maxwell as we know him is not a progressive but a conservative who do not want to work or cooperate with anyone but always like to be seen as a leader, at the high table and to be served by others.
We like to here from others and Alhaji Balarabe Musa whom we know is the authentic chairman of the CNPP, as to what is actually going on. We know those people who play the politics of the stomach are always available to the PDP to be used for it criminal and disorganisation game.
The press should neither help nor publicise rebels or those of the politics of the stomach. We want response through this comment window. Please fire in your comment.
There is nothing to hail about the verdict of the appeal court because the ruling of the supreme court was clear. How therefore could the appeal court go around it to declare Andy Uba governor. Again, the constitution was clear concerning when to hold an election and how. You can’t hold the election into that office 3 years before it was due. However, in the end, if the appeal court had declared Uba governor, governor Obi would have gone back to the supreme court to interpret their ruling. That, assuming the appeal court did not understand it, as a matter would have thrown Uba out a second time. What a shame it would have been? Notwithstanding, I still think that Uba is somehow a wise man. For a man who holds only school certificate to come up with all that he prayed for in his appeals was great, to say the least. He has put up fight. And that is commendable.