The All Progressives Congress, Anambra State Chapter, has hailed the ruling of an Abuja High Court for the disqualification of Grand Alliance of All Progressives candidate Chris Azubogu from contesting the Anambra South senatorial ticket in the general elections of 2023.
The APC said it has been vindicated by the ruling, adding that the party is indifferent as to who will fly the APGA flag in Anambra Southern District on February 25, 2023.
This was contained in a statement from the state Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, and made available to journalists in Awka on Saturday, adding that “we share the rebuke issued by the court to Azubogu that it is shameful for a legislator not to know the law”.
The statement read: “However, we welcome our vindication, as a party, for the judgment of the Abuja Federal High Court 5, presided over by the Hon. Judge Inyang Ekwo, who annulled the APGA’s nomination of a PDP member for the impending senatorial race.
“Our dynamic APC chapter issued a statement on April 29, 2022 against the unsubstantiated statements by Senators Stella Oduah, as well as the Hon. Chris Azubogu, Lynda Ikpeazu, and Okwuchuwu Ezenwankwo, among other members of the State Assembly, stating that they were leaving APC to APGA, in the case of Azubogu and some others and PDP in the case of Oduah, Ikpeazu, Ofumelu and others.
“In response to the respective statements, considered irresponsible and thoughtless, our party clearly expressed that none of these legislators had vacated their seats in the National and State Assemblies.
“Our view was that those legislators Anambra State should be ashamed of were recruited for ‘evil business at APC, in the wake of the 2021 gubernatorial election’ before God stopped their mission.
“However, we add that these fading legislators in Anambra State, including but not limited to Azubogu, know the law but choose to mischievously mock them because they enjoy the false confidence of being able to get ahead in situations.
“Yet the same people leave Anambra State without proper representation, confusing the duties of the legislature with the executive, counting ‘attracted’ projects, distributing tricycles and cash, while showing weakness in giving a voice to their constituents.
“By express provision of article 68 of the reformed 1999 Constitution, Azubogu could not have been a PPD legislator and a member of the APC, nor a PDP legislator and APGA candidate.
“It is a well-deserved judgment that has great potential to stir up the right sensibilities in Anambra State, further develop politics and deepen political awareness in Nnamdi Azikiwe State.”