PDP Candidate Vows to Appeal Ruling against Petition to Sack Ebonyi Bye-Election Tribunal Panel

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

The Ebonyi South senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 3, 2024, by-election in the state, Silas Onu, said he would appeal the ruling of the tribunal that struck out his petition that the Judges should be sacked over alleged bias, injustice and lack of fair hearing in his election petition.

The ruling was sequel to a petition filed to the President of Court of Appeal and copied to the Tribunal Panel seeking their recusal from the bye-election tribunal by the PDP candidate.

The three-man panel headed by Justice H.N Kunaza dismissed Onu’s petition for lacking in merit.

Delivering the ruling by the tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Justice Kunaza, who was flanked by Justice Bassey Bassey Nkanang and Justice M.O Agboola, said that the PDP candidate failed to prove allegations of lack of fair hearing, bias and injustice in his petition.

Meanwhile, the petitioner noted that he would immediately appeal the ruling, insisting that he has lost confidence in the ability to dispense justice in the election petition by the panel.

Onu wondered why the panel didn’t suspend all actions to await the decision of the President of the Court of Appeal.

The PDP candidate said: “I will also make a personal letter to the panel to know why they are more interested in the election petition than me, and why they aren’t staying all actions to await the decision of the President of the Court of Appeal. We will also appeal their ruling. I don’t have any confidence in the panel. They have to go for justice to prevail in our election petitions.”

Onu’s counsel, Caleb Onwe, said he would immediately apply for the certified true copy of the ruling and study it for urgent actions.

Meanwhile, counsel to Senator Anthony Okorie and second respondent, Roy Nweze, commended the ruling but expressed dissatisfaction that no cost was awarded against the petitioner to serve as deterrent to anyone who tries to malign the integrity of Judges.