Politicians in and residents of Abia North senatorial district if Abia State have expressed their excitement at the ruling of the Appeal Court, sitting, which affirmed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, as the winner of the Abia North senatorial district election.
Among politicians who have expressed their delight are: the Director, South-East Parliamentarian APC Presidential Campaign Council and Abia State Coordinator for Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign, Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, CON, Engr Emma Uche Adimoha, CEO, Phrenemos International Limited, Jemima Ola Kalu, Peter Ndukwe, Kalu A. Kalu, Mighty C. J, Comrade Chris Okoro, George Iheukwu, the National DG and Founder OUK for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Hon. Emmanuel Stephen Egbe, and Comrade Mark Anthony, from Isialangwa.
Recall that he court had on Monday, dismissed the petitions by Nnamdi Iro Orji of the Labour Party, LP, and Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking the nullification of Kalu’s victory at the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abia State.
The court ruled that there was no valid conviction of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu under section 66 of the Nigerian Constitution as the said conviction had been nullified.
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia, had upheld the victory of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North senatorial zone in the February 25, 2023 polls.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Samson Paul-Gang, in its unanimous ruling on Tuesday, September 12, dismissed the petition of PDP and it’s candidate, Ohuabunwa and LP and it’s candidate, Orji, for lacking merit.
The court, while upholding the victory of Kalu of the APC said that the election of the former Senate Chief Whip complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The tribunal judges also faulted the arguments of both petitioners that election did not hold in over 120 polling units, mainly in Ohafia and Arochukwu local government areas of the zone.
Iro and Ohuabunwa, who came second and third respectively, and their parties, LP and PDP, in separate suits had asked the court to overturn the election of the former governor of Abia State as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, alleging irregularities.
Also thrown out out was the contention m of the PDP and LP that the total number of registered voters in the said affected polling units was far above the margin of win between Kalu and the first and second runners-up.
The court also validated Kalu’s eligibility to contest the election stating that his trial and conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court.
Two other grounds filed by the LP challenging Kalu’s election were also interpreted and laid to rest by the tribunal judges and thus declared Kalu the duly elected senator of Abia North.
Kalu, a two time lawmaker, a chieftain of the APC and currently chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, was declared winner of the February 25, 2023 senatorial polls having polled 30,805 votes to defeat Orji, who got 27,540 votes and Ohuabunwa of the PDP, who scored 15,175 votes to come third.
Expressing her excitement, Senator Nwaogu said that Senator Kalu’s “resounding victory is well deserved.”
Nwaogu, a former federal lawmaker said that Kalu’s victory “is a reflection of the will of the majority of the good people of Abia North, who voted massively for Senator Kalu of the APC as against the minority that voted for the opposition parties in the February 25th 2023 National Assembly elections due the sterling performance of the serving senator in the last four years.”
In a statement by her Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Victor Kaycee Onyendi, she urged the litigants to join hands with Senator Kalu to develop Abia North and encouraged him to continue with his giant strides in bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of Abia North, which has been a characteristics of his effective representation.
The CEO, Chrex Sona Agro Services and Kelegreenworld, Paul Uche, said, “Glory to God for the Victory. I have wondered what the fate of our people would have been if the judgment did not favor us. Who will have the heart to build our roads if not OUK? Who will lighten up our streets and villages if not OUK? What about the downtrodden, who will get their children educational materials, give scholarships, and send their children abroad for studies if not OUK? Who will boldly and fearlessly speak for the people at the National Assembly if not OUK?
“If I may ask, among all the politicians who won their cases, how many of them have attracted the kind of jubilation that is sweeping across the region? Not even when the governor and other House members won. I can categorically say that the victory at the appellate court is not just for OUK, but for the people and it calls for celebration.”
CEO, Phrenemos International Limited, Engr Adimoha, noted, “Unarguably, this victory is not only splendiferous, but it is equally auspicious and conspicuously deserving of a political heavy weight such as OUK. It is a further demonstration of your unapologetic commitment to community development as well the consolidation and drive of Abia North senatorial district towards el-dorado.”
The National DG and Founder OUK for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Hon. Egbe, averred that “the legal reaffirmation of the victory is not a surprise to me, because before, now you have opened a window through your dedication and competence in your triumphant leadership quality so far and all Nigerians are impressed by your knowledgeable leadership.
“With all this your blessings of legal victory, I think your opponents should now join you so that our great state and Nigeria will progress rapidly with national infrastructural civilization and the people’s effort-oriented leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.”
Comrade Mark Anthony of Isiala Ngwa North described Kalu as a “workaholic senator” whose Appeal Court victory is not a surprise to his constituents, who “gave you their votes and you won your senatorial seat with good margin.”
Meanwhile, Senator Kalu, who is overwhelmed by the encomiums that have been pouring in over his victory, said that his trust in God and his continuous delivery of democracy dividends gave him the strength to ignore insinuations that he will be thrown out of the Senate by the Appeal Court.
He assured that he will continue to better the lives of his constituents, Abians and Nigerians through the delivery democracy dividends, which he has continuously been doing in many spheres of the constituency life, including scholarships, road construction and rehabilitation, street lights, empowerment of the indigents, building and renovation of schools, equipment of schools and health facilities, among others.
