By Onyekachi Eze
It is double jubilation in Oru East Local Government Area, Imo State, following the resounding victory of Hon Chiagoziem Nwaneri, the Imo State House of Assembly Majority leader in the appeal court against challengers in the Action Alliance, AA, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, respectively.
Last Friday, November 15, 2019, the appeal court sitting in Owerri dismissed the appeal filed by Barr Obinna Amagwula.
The presiding Judge, Justice Theresa Orji Abadua dismissed the AA’s case for lack of merit.
While the celebration was on, the court also yesterday, November 18, 2019 delivered her judgment on the case filed by Prince Henry Oluoha chekwas.
Justice Ita Mbaba dismissed the APC’s appeal for lacking in merit, and not being able to prove that allegations were true. On that juncture, a fine of one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) was handed on him to pay to both Nwaneri and PDP, each.
Yesterday’s judgment however put to rest further litigations arising from the 2019 elections petitions tribunal for Oru East State constituency seat, which affirmed Chiagoziem Nwaneri as duly elected representative.
Meanwhile, Nwaneri has enjoined constituents, especially the politicians to close ranks and work for the development of the area.
He said he does not harbor any ill feelings against the candidates of the AA, APC, or even his PDP counterpart who challenged his victory in Court, but invited them to join hands with him to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the Constituency.
According to him, the development of Oru East Constituency supersedes individual ambitions, urging everyone to come together and move the constituency to a greater height.
Nwaneri said, “the issue of the election has been finally settled by the Judgment of the Appeal Court and we have urgent need to come together and work for our people. I don’t begrudge my brothers for exploring the Courts, but now that the people’s mandate freely given to me has been consolidated, we need to come together and work as brothers for the interest of our place of origin”.
“It is my desire that we down play our political differences as the elections have come and gone, and to all those my teeming supporters that stood by me through the legal battle, I salute your doggedness in defending your mandate and I assure you that no one will be left behind”.
In his appreciation note, the soft spoken legislator opined, “I, on behalf of Dominion mandate Ozoigbo 2019, first and foremost appreciate the most high God, my rock and refuge, the Covenant keeping God for keeping to his word. He alone takes all the Glory. I also want to thank the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their steadfastness towards this course; LEADERS OF THE GREAT PARTY, I extend my profound gratitude. I want to thank the great people of Oru East, your support and love is second to none, Traditional rulers, Spiritual fathers, for your blessings and prayers, I say thank you. Fellow Politicians (across party lines), I thank you for standing for truth. Posterity will never forget your actions. To the youths of Oru East, I can’t thank you enough. I never felt alone from the beginning; Primary Election, High Court, Appeal Court, Supreme Court, tribunal, Appeal Court again.
The journey was rough, but I was never alone. To everyone, I extend my profound gratitude. THIS IS NOT MY VICTORY,
IT’S OUR VICTORY, THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF ORU EAST”
