The Supreme Court in Abuja has dismissed the case filed by Mr. Okey Igwe, the running mate to Prof. Uche Ikonne, former candidate of the Abia People’s Democratic Party (PDP),in the 2023 Governorship election, which challenged his substitution with Dr. Jasper Uche, after he emerged as the running mate to Sir Okey Ahiwe who was elected to replace Prof. Ikonne.
In dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court described Okey Igwe’s effort as a wild goose chase that lacked merit and thereafter awarded cost of N200,000 to each of the respondents, amounting to N1.2m to be paid by Mr. Okey Igwe.
Following the death of Prof. Ikonne, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, mandated the PDP to conduct a fresh primary election which produced Sir Okey Ahiwe and he chose Dr. Jasper Uche as his running mate.
Dissatisfied with his replacement, Mr. Okey Igwe approached an Abuja High Court and sought to nullify the candidature of Dr. Jasper Uche. After the High Court dismissed his case he went to the Appeal Court which equally dismissed his case prompting him to go the Supreme Court for final determination.
The decision of the Supreme Court has finally confirmed Dr. Jasper Uche as the authentic running mate to Sir Okey Ahiwe and this is a victory for Sir Okey Ahiwe, Dr. Jasper Uche, the entire Abia PDP family and the good people of Abia State.
In a Press Release signed by the PDP Vice Chairman and Acting State Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, the party congratulated the guber candidate, Sir Okey Ahiwe, his running mate Dr. Jasper Uche and the entire Abia PDP family on the well deserved, very important and significant victory.
“As a party that is always magnanimous in victory, the Abia PDP uses this opportunity to inform our estranged brother, Mr. Okey Igwe that the door of the Party is still open to him to come back and help in building the Party to be more formidable to serve the good people of Abia State.
“We are thankful to all members of the PDP and our numerous admirers who stood by us all through the trial period and never lost faith in the ability of the Party to take the right decision at all times as the judgement of the Supreme Court has shown.
“We call on our members, millions of admirers and sympathisers to remain steadfast and trust in the ability of the party leadership to do the right thing always.
