TRIBUNAL VICTORY: GOV NWIFURU COMMENDS JUDICIARY, EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH TO APGA, PDP CANDIDATES

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State says his victory at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has further strengthened his conviction that judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

Reacting to the judgment at Government House Abakaliki, Governor Nwifuru said the judgment was decided on the point of law, noting that he was qualified and duly nominated by his party to stand for the March 18, Election.

He extended olive branch to the Governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Benard Odo, and that of the PDP, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii to support his administration.

The Tribunal in its judgment struck out the petitions of Professor Odoh and Dr. Odii for lacking in merit.

The duo had argued that Chief Nwifuru was not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) but the three-man panel disagreed with the petitioners, ruling that the issues of qualifications and nomination of candidates for elections were pre-election matters, which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU