Imo PDP Shocked Over SC’s Cancellation of Orlu Senatorial Primary, Assures Of Participation; Judgement  For Senate Only

By Charles Igbo

The Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  has expressed shock over the disqualification of its Senatorial candidate for Imo West, Dr Jones Onyereri by the Supreme Court.

The Court had, on Friday, January 13, 2023, not only disqualified Onyereri, but barred the PDP from participating in the Senatorial election billed for February 25, 2023.

The Apex Court said it disqualified him because the Primary election which produced him was held in Owerri, instead of Orlu, the Headquarters of Imo West Senatorial Zone according to he Electoral Act.

In disqualifying PDP from participation in the Senatorial election, the Supreme Court said it was late to field another candidate as the time for a replacement has passed.

However, the PDP, has appealed to its faithful to calm down, and clarified to them that the Supreme Court judgement “does not affect other Candidates in Orlu Zone.”

The statement, also, assured that the PDP “will return to the ballot for Orlu Senate through judicial review.”

The full text of the statement, issued on Saturday, and signed by Publicity Secretary, Collins Opurozor, reads:

“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State, is deeply in shock over the unfair cancellation of the Imo West (Orlu Zone) Senatorial Primary Election of the Party by the Supreme Court, yesterday, January 13, 2023.

“For Imo PDP, this verdict of the apex court, which,  in line with the provisions of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, was premised on issues of venue of the Primary Election, clearly did not factor the realities in Imo State, particularly Orlu Zone, that warranted the Senatorial Primary Election for the Zone to be held in Owerri.

“The hydra-headed monster of insecurity in Orlu which has brought open political activities to a halt in the area is already a known fact.

“It was on the basis of this insecurity that the Party wrote INEC and sought approval for the primaries in Imo and Anambra States to be held at the relatively peaceful capital cities. This request was granted by INEC and formally conveyed to the Party through a letter. It is, therefore, shocking that the Supreme Court ignored this letter and proceeded to deliver judgment against our Party.

“Further, the apex court had earlier given judgements on this matter in similar suits, where it set a precedent and established the validity of primaries held outside of the respective constituencies as a result of insecurity.  Why that of Orlu has become different is what nobody can explain.

“On the strength of the above, Imo PDP shall consult with its team of legal experts and consider the option of seeking a review of the judgement at the Supreme Court, so as to quickly return the Party to the ballot for the 2023 Senatorial Election in Orlu Zone.

“Furthermore, our Party calls on our members, our teeming supporters in Orlu Zone and, in deed, the general public to discountenance the rumours that this judgement would in any way affect our other candidates across Orlu Zone.

“Also, PDP members and supporters in Orlu Zone are enjoined to remain calm and steadfast as the Party resolves the issue, being assured that our Party will certainly be on the ballot for the 2023 Orlu Senatorial Election.”

Before his disqualification, Onyereri was a frontrunner for the Imo West Senatorial election.