The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has declared that it is not distracted by decision of judges to withdraw from the suit filed by its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede over the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize him as the authentic candidate of the party in the forthcoming election.
The party on Tuesday said that it is “neither distracted nor would it succumb to the time worn tactics of judicial ambush” as a result of the withdrawal of the Appeal Panel of the Court of Appeal handling its case on the removal of Jegede from the list.
The party also called for the immediate arrest of Biyi Poroye, who made wild allegations against the panel members and that he should be made to substantiate his claims.
Reacting to the development, the state’s Director of Publicity of the party, Mr Ayo Fadaka, in a statement said the withdrawal of the Panel headed by Honorable Justice Jumai Sankey was “predicated by the specious and unproven allegations of corruption and other sundry charges by the Jimoh Ibrahim group against the panel”, which prevented it from hearing the appeal against the judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“Certainly the petition was a desperate last ditch effort to prevent the panel from carrying out justice. It follows a curious path of blackmail and ambush that Jimoh Ibrahim and his allies have come to be noted for since they took on the job of killing the PDP in Ondo State.
“We alert Nigerians of the grave damage such irresponsible under hand tactics as being deployed by Jimoh Ibrahim and his cohorts could wrought on our fledging democracy. This attitude to say the least is absolutely irresponsible and obviously calculated to forestall prompt adjudication on the matter”, the statement said.
The party maintained, however, that it was not disillusioned, distracted and shall not succumb to “this time worn tactics of judicial ambush.”
The party thus “encourages genuine PDP members to keep faith, remain resolute and steady the course in support of the candidate of the party, Eyitayo Jegede SAN.
“We must not lose sight of the fact we are clearly in the majority in Ondo State. Our strength lies in our votes and no court, no litigation, no delay tactics can determine the direction and beneficiary of your votes.
“The party encourages its members to continue to hold on tight to their votes”, assuring that at the end of it all, “Eyitayo Jegede candidate will emerge as Governor of Ondo State come November 26, 2016.”
“We however want to declare that as long as there are distinguished judges in Nigeria, we will get justice as the judicial contraption of Abang cannot hold.
“We also call for the immediate arrest of Biyi Poroye who made those wild allegations and also swore to an affidavit on them to substantiate them, failure of this, is to confirm that he and his group enjoys the support of the Presidency in this dastardly action.
“We call on our members to be calm and patient as this time shall certainly pass away. Those who have chosen to be irresponsible and callous to the extent of destroying a party they profess to belong will certainly contend with history one day soon,” the party said.
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