The Judge ruled in favor of the PDP and Prof Ikonne Uche alleging that the non-physical presence of Samson Orji during the gubernatorial primary meant he withdrew from the race. The group led by one Barrister Thomas Ikechukwu Iko disagreed with the position of the judge, stating that Samson Orji proved beyond reasonable doubt that he participated in the election which earned him votes as published by PDP.

.. Group condemns decision of the lower court 

More tongues are wagging over the judgement of Justice Evelyn Anyadike concerning the pre-election suit instituted by one of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Abia State.

The most recent group being Concerned Lawyers for Advancement of Democracy, frowned at the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court Judge in Umuahia, Abia State.

The Judge ruled in favor of the PDP and Prof Ikonne Uche alleging that the non-physical presence of Samson Orji during the gubernatorial primary meant he withdrew from the race. The group led by one Barrister Thomas Ikechukwu Iko disagreed with the position of the judge, stating that Samson Orji proved beyond reasonable doubt that he participated in the election which earned him votes as published by PDP.

Based on a press statement, the Concerned Lawyers for Advancement of Democracy maintained that the judgment as delivered by Justice Evelyn Anyasike has impacted negatively on the democratic tenet because they find it hard to reconcile the evidence made available to the judge and the judgment that was delivered.  They stated that the electoral act spelled out the process of withdrawing from party primary election and being absent is not one of them despite the fact that the plaintiff was never absent.

The Concerned Lawyers for Advancement of Democracy posited that the only way to withdraw from an election primary is through writing a withdrawal letter and submitting to the party which Samson Orji never did.

The group went forward to state that the judgement is a miscarriage of justice that may have been influenced.

“What is worrisome is that the Judge neglected petitions brought before her in contestation of the primary election which was marred by irregularities and therefore cannot produce credible results” Says Iko.

As at press time, the Concerned Lawyers for Advancement of Democracy revealed that it has gathered that PDP is making frantic efforts to uphold the judgment of the lower court which they claim went contrary against electoral act even though they see the judgment as clear miscarriage of justice.

The group is calling on the appellate court to avoid a repeat of this embarrassment by the lower court and restore confidence in the hearts of the people who see the court of law as the only hope for a common man to seek justice.

The court should treat this issue with care and avoid any form of compromise that will paint the judiciary black, Iko concludes.