The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday dismissed the Abuja High Court judgement of Justice John Tsoho as “inconsequential and dead on arrival.”

Justice Tsoho had ruled that Obiora Okonkwo was the validly nominated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election and should be sworn in immediately as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District. The judgement rendered on December 13 ordered that Okonkwo be sworn in as Senator to replace Uche Ekwunife, formerly candidate of PDP, who sacked by the Court of Appeal for improper nomination.

However, in a statement made available by the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye in Awka, he said that the party was unfazed with the development, saying that the judgment of a High Court could not upturn that of a Court of Appeal.

According to him, APGA had prepared for the January 13, 2018 senatorial re-run poll as ordered by the Court of Appeal, adding that the judgment of a High Court declaring PDP winner of the seat was null and void.

The statement reads: “You recall that prior to now, the court of Appeal had ordered INEC to conduct a repeat election within 90 days, whereupon INEC fixed for January 13, 2018.

“In that judgment, the Court of Appeal disqualified PDP from participating in the re-run election, the reason being that as at the time of the initial election, the PDP did not nominate a valid candidate.

“It is surprising that the High Court gave a judgment in favour of Obiora Okonkwo of the PDP.

“The questions are: can the High Court substitute Obiora Okonkwo for Uche Ekwunife in the face of the decision of the Court of Appeal and can the decision of the High Court upturn and overrule the subsisting judgment of Court of Appeal.

“The only decision that can upturn that decision of the Court of Appeal is a decision of the Supreme Court.

“To that extent, the judgment is non sequitor, Obiora Okonkwo cannot be sworn in as a Senator of Anambra Central in the face of the judgment of the Court of Appeal which is still subsisting.”

Despite APGA’s hope for a re-run election come January 13, the Anambra State chapter of PDP is celebrating the ruling. Addressing journalists in Awka yesterday, the chairman of the party in the state, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, hailed the judgment.

Nwobu, who spoke at the party secretariat in Awka, called on all parties in the zone to accept the judgement in good faith.

His words: “The State Working Committee of the PDP and the entire members of the party in Anambra rejoice with our great son, Senator Obiora Okonkwo on the court’s verdict proclaiming him the rightful winner of the Senate for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone.”