By Francis Igata, Enugu

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Although the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in Enugu State had criss-crossed the 17 Local Government Areas in the state campaigning for votes ahead of the April 11 governorship election, their hearts were in the mouth following a subsisting court case which sought to alter the candidature of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,the party’s candidate for the polls.

With the judgement of last Monday from an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Evoh Chukwu validating the candidature of Ugwuanyi as the party’s standard flag bearer for the polls,stakeholders and residents rolled out their drums in jubilation as the news filtered in.

One of the governorship aspirants, Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu-North senatorial zone had disagreed with the process leading to the primary election, citing irregularities in the delegates list to be used for the contest.

Ayogu however conducted his own separate primary election at Filbon Hotel, New Haven where he emerged winner of the exercise. Eze had quickly filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division presided over by Justice Evoh Chukwu seeking through his counsel Mr. Yusuf Ali,SAN, to be declared the rightful candidate of the party.

•Eze: Claiming victory

Eze had in his suit, number FHC/ABJ/CS/2014, prayed the court to restrain ‘’the PDP, the National Working Committee, NWC, and INEC, by themselves, agents, officers, officials, privies or representatives and other person whatsoever, deriving authority from them from submitting, forwarding or sending the names of any other person other than himself, as their duly elected governorship candidate for 2015 governorship election in Enugu state, pending the final determination of the substantive case.”

Justice Chukwu in his judgement which lasted for over 2hours validated the candidature of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the authentic candidate of the party for the April 11 governorship. Justice Chukwu had held that the Court, presided over by Justice A. Ademola never sanctioned or authenticated the delegates list from the state for the November 1,ward congresses which Ayogu contended to be the authentic delegates list.

Reacting,a visibly elated Commissioner for Inter Ministerial Affairs,Enugu state,Mr. Beloved-Dan Anike said,”The judgement is one that is in the right direction. It shows that politicians no matter how highly placed, you should go with the people in your pursuit.

“The judgement is an expression of the will of the people who voted Ugwuanyi on December 8 primary. The court has expressed the wishes of the people of Enugu state. Ayogu should accept the judgement in good faith and come back to the fold.

“Any other candidate other than Ugwuanyi will be counter productive because it does not reflect the wishes of the people of Enugu state most of whom are not politicians but they voted him as the party flag bearer for the April 11 governorship election.

Another respondent, Chairman,Enugu Unity Forum,Mr. Tahil Ochi said,”We respect Ayogu Eze in Enugu state but as it stands now, he should accept the verdict of the court.

“For now, Ugwuanyi is the best candidate as have been shown by the massive support from the people. The judgement is a reflection of the peoples wishes and Ayogu should embrace it so that we move forward.”