The court dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeal for lacking in merit.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has said it will contest Wednesday’s Appeal Court judgment that affirmed Governor Bassey Otu as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The party’s decision to challenge Otu’s electoral victory was contained in a statement issued by its state publicity secretary, Mr Mike Ojisi, and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Thursday.
SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State on Wednesday delivered its judgment reaffirming the victory of Senator Bassey Otu as the Governor of Cross River State.
The court dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appeal for lacking in merit.
The Appeal Court agreed with the submission made in the brief of argument filed and argued by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the lead Counsel for Bassey Otu and Peter Odey and resolved all the 20 issues formulated for determination in the Appellants’ brief by their Counsel, Dr. J.Y. Musa, SAN, in favour of the Respondents and against the Appellants, the PDP and Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.
The court also slammed N1million naira cost against each of the Appellants in favour of each of the four Respondents, Bassey Otu, Peter Odey, INEC and the APC.
While urging PDP supporters to remain calm, the state publicity secretary, Ojisi noted that the verdict of the appellate court did not reflect the full conviction of the party’s position on the processes leading to the election.
“While we are saddened by this temporary setback, we are, however, glad that there is still room at the Supreme Court, and this is the beauty of our judicial system and democracy.
“We kindly appeal to our teeming supporters and party faithful to remain calm, as we are still committed to seeking legal opinions and exhausting all legal means toward reclaiming our mandate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the governor, who had earlier called for an end to further litigation on the matter, said that he remained unshaken by the petition against his electoral victory in the March 18 governorship poll.
Speaking on the appeal court judgment, Otu said that he believed that the people of the state overwhelmingly gave him their mandate.
He said it was time for all, irrespective of political party affiliations, to join hands with him to move the state forward.
The governor had said that the affirmation of his victory by the court had given him an added impetus to serve the state and move it forward with his agenda.
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