The Cross River State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Venatius Ikem, says that the party will obey the Federal High Court judgment on the Ikom/Boki disputed primary conducted in May 2022.
Ikem, who spoke on Friday in Calabar, stated that the party would respond to the issues at the appropriate time.
“I would communicate with the national body of the party. When they finish communicating with us, I will know what to say.”
Ikem, when asked if the re-run would be conducted as ordered by the court, said, “Of course, we would obey court order. It’s just that our communication with the national has not happened. I would do that between weekend and early part of next week, before we can understand what they would want us to do. I think both parties are ready for the rerun.”
The PDP had on May 23, 2022 conducted its primary to pick a candidate to contest for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in the 2023 elections.
The former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Mr. Attah Ochinke, was declared winner of the polls.
However, one of the aspirants who took part in the primary, Mr. Abang Besong, went to court to seek redress.
And the Federal High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/913/22 nullified the result on Friday, September 16, and ordered for a re-run primary.
In a judgement delivered in favour of the plaintiff, the court said he proved his case on preponderance of evidence and thereafter, the court ordered for a re-run.
Reacting, Besong said, “No comment because it’s a judgement that had been given by court. Be that as it may, I am confident that I will win the re-run. I am fully prepared for the re-run.”
In his remarks, Ochinke said, “There is no option for the primary election. I remain the best material for the position even if I go for re-run.”
