UDOM'S APPEAL COURT VICTORY, TRUE REFLECTION OF A'IBOM PEOPLE'S WISHES - Etim Ekpo Councillor

By Seun Abimbola, CALABAR.


The Councillor representing Etim Ekpo Ward 10 in Akwa Ibom; Honourable Imeh Afia, has described the Appeal Court victory of the State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as a true reflection of the overwhelming wishes of Akwa Ibom people, freely expressed in the March 9 governorship election.


Hon Afia, who heads, the Committee on Health, Etim Ekpo Legislative Council, equally said the dismissal of the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress(APC) in the State; Obong Nsima Ekere by the Appellate Court was a reaffirmation of the Divine Mandate given to Gov. Emmanuel.


On Wednesday, the five-member panel of Court of Appeal in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, upheld the election of Akwa Ibom governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and affirmed by the Lower Tribunal sitting in Uyo.



Reacting to the Wednesday's judgement, the Councillor, who spoke to Journalists at the Appeal Court premises in Calabar, stated that “the judicial decision would further put to an end to the side distractions of the opppostion political association".


His words: “I wish to express my profound appreciation to the good people of Akwa Ibom State, for the massive support they gave to our dear Governor during the last electioneering, the polls and down to this very moment at the Court in far away Calabar, irrespective of the poor State of the Calabar-Itu-Highway, a federal government road.


"Let me make bold to say that, this massive number of foot soldiers at this court premises and Millions in Akwa Ibom are ready to follow the APC to the Supreme Court, in case they still want to further the legal battle, but let their governorship candidate issue the N 500,000 cheque to our governor as awarded by the Appellate Court."


While thanking God for the victory, Hon. Imeh Afia, a Graduate of Marketing at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, specifically appreciated the judiciary for rising up to its solemn responsibility of ensuring that justice prevails, stressing that the judgment was a clear indication that the third arm of government is the last hope of the common man.



He therefore, called on those who may still be aggrieved to drop their difference in the interest of the State and join hands with Governor Emmanuel to move Akwa Ibom forward.


"Our governor is a man of peace. He believes in politics without bitterness and has said at various fora that he is ever ready and willing to accommodate all shades of interests in line with his administration’s Completion Agenda", he submitted.


Meanwhile, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, yesterday, was received with jubilation by supporters of Governor Udom Emmanuel who were in court in their numbers.