PDP challenges Abe’s declaration as senator at tribunal
Senator Magnus Abe
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has gone to the Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the declaration of Magnus Abe as winner of the re-run election in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
A statement by Rivers State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, alleged that the declaration of Abe as winner in the election was a grave error as available records showed that security agencies massively rigged the December 10, 2016 senatorial polls in favour of the latter.
In a swift reaction, however, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was a nice thing for PDP to go to court, adding that the move was part of the electoral process.
Spokesman of the APC, Chris Finebone, said it was not necessary making noise about doing so, as going to the tribunal is a normal thing after every election and must not become an issue to argue about. He is optimistic that Abe’s election will be upheld.
Obuah called on the people of the senatorial district, especially Mr. Olaka Nwogu, the party’s candidate, to remain calm and hopeful, adding that he would surely reclaim his mandate.
Meanwhile, the PDP staff welfare forum yesterday appealed to the judiciary to ensure a quick end to the legal tussle among the factions of the party.Staging a protest over the seven months shutdown of the Wadata Plaza PDP national headquarters, the workers stated that the delay in the dispensation of justice in the leadership legal tussle was affecting the performance of the opposition political grouping, a situation which they noted, was leading to a one party system in Nigeria’s democracy.
Secretary of the forum, Dan Ochubaiye, who led the protest, said: “The forum frowned at the incessant petitions by a party in the case and described it as a delay tactic to subvert justice.
“The members of staff of the secretariat believe that the delay is only beneficial to the petitioner who is being sponsored by the ruling party to weaken and silence the only opposition party.”
He decried the continuous shutdown of the national secretariat by the police, noting: “Certain elements want to ensure that the PDP national secretariat is perpetually under lock and key.
“No court in the country gave the order for the lockdown of the secretariat by the police.” They, therefore, demanded the “immediate and unconditional reopening of the secretariat.”
