The Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State has rejected the judgment of the appeal court which it said erroneously affirmed the declaration of Senator Hope Uzodimma as Governor of the State.
This is even as the party has expressed confidence in the supreme court to claim the mandate.
The appellate court sitting in Abuja had on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, dismissed PDP’s appeal challenging the declaration of Uzodimma of the APC as governor by INEC following last November’s governorship poll.
According to the PDP, Uzodimma’s governorship sat on an illegal foundation and his celebration will be short-lived as justice must prevail.
In a swift reaction, the PDP said they rejected the verdict and maintained that Anyanwu overwhelmingly won the election, and that the appellate court erred as the verdict did not reflect justice in its true sense.
Anyanwu described the judgment of the appeal court as a distraction, and expressed confidence in the supreme court to reserve the obvious error committed by the Appeal Court, and by so doing redeem the image of the judiciary.
He said: “This judgment of the appeal court today is nothing but a tactical means to delay justice. We shall not allow them to succeed. Our legal team will take time to review and study the judgment, and thereafter, do the needful. The only assurance to our supporters across Imo state and Nigeria in general is that, we shall laugh last. It is worth noting that every average Imo person is convinced that PDP genuinely won the November election before enemies of our state hijacked the victory after collaborating with officials of the electoral umpire.
“We will not lose hope in the Judiciary despite this judgment legalizing illegality, we are still confident that our Judiciary still possesses people of conscience and unsoiled image who will look at the mistakes of the lower courts and do justice where necessary”
The party expressed her confidence in the supreme court “To correct the errors of the lower courts by declaring its candidate Senator Samuel Anyanwu as the duly elected governor of Imo state in line with the will of the vast majority of Imo people.
Meanwhile, the PDP has called on her members and supporters to remain calm and focused in the face of this stark travesty of justice.