By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Former National chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district of Anambra state Senator Victor Umeh on Tuesday lauded the Kano state division of the Appeal Court for affirming Chief Victor Oye as the authentic National Chairman of the party.

He said the judgment by the Appelate Court which nullified the verdict of the Jigawa State High Court, had also given proper definition of law and therefore by that judgment the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should publish the name of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Chukeuma Soludo as candidate of APGA for the November 6 Governorship election in the state.

Umeh who spoke in reaction to the judgment of the Court of Appeal during an interview with newsmen in Awka, the Anambra state capital, advised the factional candidate of the party for governorship election, Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji to restrain himself from going to the Supreme Court to contest the Court of Appeal verdict.

Senator Umeh stated that Umeoji had exercised his right to express his grievances by going to contest whatever action he felt was done to him wrongly, but, urged him not to overstretch his action.

He stated that Umeoji had enjoyed the support of the party for so many years, and, is currently a member of the House of Representatives under the APGA platform, stating that now, that the party hierarchy has chosen Professor Soludo as the candidate of the party for the Anambra state gubernatorial election, Umeoji should respect and support the decision.

Senator Umeh who doubles as the chairman of APGA Peace and Reconciliation Committee constituted by the party’s national executive to broker peace among aggrieved member to ensure that the party wins the forthcoming Anambra state gubernatorial poll, cautioned that if Umeoji fails to accept the peace overtures, but, continues to wage war against the party using the Courts, “time shall come when he will see that no member of APGA is supporting him again”.

He appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to stop working in cohort with opponents of APGA to undermine the chances of the party’s victory in the election, and, publish Soludo’s name as the party’s governorship candidate without further delay.

Umeh expressed optimism that APGA had since it took over reins of governance in Anambra state demonstrated and recorded tremendous achievement such that the People of the state would not prefer any other party, citing for instance, that the Anambra International Passenger/Cargo Airport, at Umueri, is, among the landmark achievements of the party.

According to him, people of Anambra state would remember very fresh, and, vote for the continuity of the party in the governance of the state.

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“We thank God that today not only that the judiciary had redeemed its name, justice has been done and that judgment has given its proper description by the Court of Appeal.”

“Well, today we are very happy about the news of the judgment of the Court of Appeal,Kano division which nullified the judgment of the Jigawa state High Court in Birnin Kudu and attempted to foist a stranger on us as Acting National chairman and with a consequential order that INEC should accept whoever the fellow nominated as candidate of APGA,” Umeh said.

Chief Umeoji and others should return back to the party. We are waiting to welcome him back to the party. We don’t want parallel campaign party, one campaign team will deliver Prof. Charles Soludo as governor of Anambra state,” he stated.