By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state says he remained in Ebonyi on the day of the election petition tribunal’s judgement because he put his trust in God instead of man.
Nwifuru made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abakaliki while reacting to the upholding of his mandate by the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The tribunal dismissed the petition against Nwifuru’s victory in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Odii.
The tribunal also dismissed the petition brought by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof Bernard Odoh, ruling that both lacked merit.
“See me here in Ebonyi, I didn’t visit anybody because I know nobody.
“God gave verdict in my favour and even those who petitioned my victory knew I won the election,”.
He thanked Ebonyi people for massively voting for him as such made his petitioners file only one ground of petition.
“”They contested that I was was not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the time I contested the election.
“The tribunal judiciously dismissed the claim because what qualifies someone to contest for a position is already stated in the electoral act.
“Once someone contests in a party’s primaries, wins and name submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), such person is a member of that party,”.
Nwifuru also said that the electoral act stipultes that only an aspirant under a particular party has the right to contest the eligibility of its candidate.
‘This must however be done within 14 days and if not done within such period, becomes null,”
“I approached my opponents after my electoral victory to join me in developing the state but they approached the tribunal for justice.
“I still urge them to bring the ideas in their manifestos for us to develop and make the state prosperous,”.
He counseled that there was no gain in further litigations because truth brings forgiveness, reconciliation and development.
“I thank the APC in Ebonyi, former Governor David Umahi, stakeholders and all Ebonyi people for their prayers and massive support,”.
