By Akpan David, Calabar
Governor Ben Ayade’s group in Cross River State ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has won an appeal at the Appeal Court to have Barrister Alphonsus Eba as its state chairman.
This follows the judgement of Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal Calabar, Justice M S Owoade in suit number CA/C/386/2020, between Venatius Ikem and others versus PDP and Alphonsus Eba holding that the party’s rules and guidelines on election of its officials override whatever interferes with the election process.
The judgment delivered in Calabar, said the Appeal Court finds the Appeal by the Cross River PDP competent as the lower court which earlier delivered judgement in favour of Venatius Ikem failed to take into cognisance salient issues raised by the Appellant during initial hearing of the matter before delivering its judgement.
“Section 147 of the PDP Constitution has explicitly spelt out the qualification for anyone to contest for any position in the party and any one seeking office should abide by the terms contained in the Constitution”, Justice Owoade held.
The judge also held that a political party has vested authority to insist on imposing the rules contained in its Constitution without restrictions and such rules are sacrosanct.
It was argued that Ikem did not meet the terms to participate in the election having deserted the party before now
Reacting to the judgment, Ikem, a former National Publicity Secretary of the party, told journalists that he will proceed to the Supreme Court next week.
“I am challenging my purported disqualification to contest for the Chairmanship position because it is against the Constitution of the party and clearly contrived by the Gov’s faction because they cannot face me at the Congress.
“All they want is for my opponent to become Chairman unopposed. That’s the ridiculous expectation that is driving all the Court processes.
“Some people with all the Governor’s support stand no chance of winning unless nobody is contesting with them. That’s the Crux of the matter…”
According to Alphonsus Eba, the Appellant, who expressed happiness at the judgment, the litigation had held the conduct of State Congress of the PDP from taking place
He called on all party members to come together so that a State Congress can be conducted for the party to forge ahead.
“With today’s judgement I have been confirmed as the sole chairmanship candidate of the party and my hands are wide open to receive everyone including those who have opposed and even abused me in the past”.
