By Onome Oghenetega
The Delta State Director of Atiku/Obi Vanguard Nigeria, Mr Jonathan Umukoro has lauded Thursday’s ruling by the Appeal Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, which upheld the ruling restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC) from submitting candidate names from the state to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general elections.
Umukoro noted that the ruling shows that democracy is in action and there is no APC in the state.
The Court of Appeal had on Thursday upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, Asaba restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC) from submitting names of candidates from both factions of the Delta APC until the court makes a pronouncement on the case.
The PDP chieftain made the remark in a statement made available to WARRI TODAY in Asaba on Friday.
According to Umukoro “the Appeal Court was right in rejecting the appeal from the Prophet Jones Erhue led faction for not seeking leave of the Federal High Court, Asaba before embarking on the appeal and as it stands the ruling of the Federal High Court, Asaba barring any faction of the party from submitting candidates names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still subsists.”
“The implication of this is that Delta APC have no candidates as all lists submitted to INEC by the Jones Erhue led faction is a nullity pending the determination of the substantive suit challenging the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee dissolution of the State Executive Committee led by Chief Cyril Ogodo,” he stated.
Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court, Asaba, had in a ruling, ordered the APC National Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, INEC, Prophet Jones Erue and Plaintiffs in the case to maintain status quo and desist from submitting any list of candidates from Delta State from both factions to INEC till determination of the substantive suit.
Continuing, Umukoro further said “for us in the PDP, we are particularly happy with the ruling as those who believe they can take power by force or by trick are mistaken; power belong to God, He gives and takes it at will; this is democracy, there are different avenues to check illegality and rascality, because, democracy is an organised system of government where there are different channels to ensure that things are done right.
“Humans should be careful about their utterances and actions for no man is greater than God; if it is not given to you by God, you can’t have it; God is with Delta State and that is why He has given us a peace loving and hardworking Governor in Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; we therefore urge all Deltans to support his re-election to continue with the onerous task of creating more jobs for our unemployed youths as God has ordained that there shall be no violence in Delta State throughout the general elections,” he emphasised.
