PDP Candidate In Ebonyi Bye Election Vows To Appeal Tribunal’s Dismissal Of Petition

PDP Candidate In Ebonyi Bye Election Vows To Appeal Tribunal’s Dismissal Of Petition

Published on May 14, 2024
By Noah Abdulsalam

Silas Onu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ebonyi South Senatorial by-election held on February 3rd, 2024, has declared his intention to appeal the tribunal’s decision to strike out his petition against the judges….read also Edo 2024: Obaseki Finally Opens Up On Who He’ll Support As PDP Candidate

Onu’s petition alleged bias, injustice, and lack of fair hearing in his election challenge.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice H.N Kunaza and assisted by Justices Bassey Bassey Nkanang and M.O Agboola, dismissed Onu’s petition for lacking merit. Despite this setback, Onu remains resolute in his pursuit of justice, expressing his intention to appeal the ruling immediately.

Onu criticized the tribunal’s refusal to suspend proceedings pending a decision from the President of the Court of Appeal. He questioned the panel’s priorities and expressed a lack of confidence in their ability to deliver fair judgments in election petitions.

Caleb Onwe, Onu’s legal representative, announced plans to obtain a certified true copy of the ruling for further action. Meanwhile, counsel for Senator Anthony Okorie, Roy Nweze, and the second respondent, Jerry Ezenyi, expressed satisfaction with the tribunal’s decision, praising its soundness in law and fact.

Nweze lamented the absence of costs awarded against the petitioner, suggesting it would deter future attempts to impugn the integrity of judges. Ezenyi echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the tribunal’s adherence to legal principles in its ruling.

As Onu prepares to escalate his appeal, the outcome remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the aftermath of the contentious by-election in Ebonyi South.