The Bayelsa State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) says the last week’s judgement by the Federal High Court in Yenagoa that disqualified the senatorial candidate of the party, Peremobowei Ebebi for the forthcoming by-election was not fair to the party in any ramification.
The state Secretary of the party, Mr Alabo Martin’s while speaking with Daily Trust in reaction to the judgement said that the primary that brought about Ebebi, a former Deputy Governor of the state as its candidate was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Jane Inyang, in a judgment on a case of forgery filed by Richman Samuel, a former director of domestic matters, Government House, Yenagoa against the APC candidate had upheld the plaintiff’s prayers and declared the APC candidate ineligible to contest in the bye-election.
Inyang also held that the voter’s card which the senatorial candidate submitted to INEC “as declared by his Ebebi’s father, bears a different age and therefore contradicts other of his documents and his filed INEC forms.”
But the APC secretary said that Justice Inyang could be playing the PDP’s card judging by her previous unfair judgements to the party, insisting that since the judgement came from the Court of first instance, the party will contest the ruling at the appellate courts.
He said: “The woman and her court has never been fair to us in APC, she almost scuttled our victory in the House of Representatives seats during the National Assembly election, in 2019, she nearly scuttled our governorship primary, she has never been fair to APC.
“Ordinarily, the judiciary is not the electorate, but now, reverse has been the case, especially in her court, we thank God this is the court of first instance, we have appealed the judgement because INEC monitored our primaries, if Dickson thinks he is popular, let him go to the poll and win instead of using judiciary.” He said.
A foundation member of APC in Bayelsa State, Mr Christopher Abarowei has already blamed the state leadership of the party for various court judgements, especially the one that scuttled the chance of the party ruling the state after its victory during governorship election last year.
He described the judgement disqualifying Ebebi as disappointing and unfortunate, but expressed happiness that the party still has right of appeal.
He said: “The party leadership ought to have scrutinize the credentials of any person presenting himself for election, we should not accommodate such carelessness again, bearing in mind that we lost opportunity of governing Bayelsa State in less than 24 hours to the swearing-in in similar circumstances.
“I am a foundation member of APC in Bayelsa State and I am concerned about all these things, we laboured for the growth of this party in the state, if this judgement is upheld by the appellate courts, it means that the party leadership is not up and doing.” He said.
