JUSTICE EKWO INYANG AGAIN?
By Amb. Tony Okonigene
When I saw the originating summons from some supposed disenfranchised PDP delegates from Justice Inyang Ekwo’s Court, I laughed. I said in my mind that Wike and his people want to start another futile journey again. I could recollect vividly that it was in this same Court that some legacy PDP delegates ( whom we were supporting then), started their futile journey that was quashed at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
The superior courts made it clear that ad-hoc delegates cannot question the outcomes of delegates congresses of their party. Section 84(14) of The Electoral Act , 2022, makes it clear that only an aspirant who participated in the primaries can question the processes if he or she believes that the provisions of The I999 Constitution, Electoral Act or the party’s constitution were subverted. Outside this, the courts will have no jurisdiction.
When I saw the summons from Justice Ekwo’s court, bearing in mind the outcome at the superior court’s of his judgment in favour of the Legacy delegates, I wrote off the case and declared it dead on arrival. However, because I was privy to some of the under currents that played out with the Legacy group, I was a bit apprehensive. The judge I pictured then could dare any consequence for the right price. The demotion given to him by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in May 2024, for giving questionable rulings and judgments, did not help matters. I knew that he will be ready to retire and was on his final plunge. His mates are already senior Appeal Court judges. The NJC could not risk having him in a court that can assume final jurisdiction on certainty matters. The best route for him was to cash out and retire. This was a golden opportunity. Non of his political judgments has ever survived in the apex court.
I saw some persons celebrating the judgement. One was shamelessly calling God’s name after what he was assisted to fraudulently procure. These are the same elements that took us on a wild goose chase before, using procured judgements from Justice Inyang Ekwo. They knew that the judgement would not stand but were interested in milking the Legacy Candidates dry. Ask any of the Legacy candidates, especially Mike Onolememen, Lewis Osobase and Joefel, how much these guys collected from them and if till date any account was given. They had no access even to their sole lawyer. By the time they are through with Philip, he will curse the day he met them.
The PDP is focused with our eyes on the ball. The desperation to stop the moving train of Barr Asue Ighodalo is what is playing out. The APC especially, is not ready to go to the polls because the outcome is predictable. The vast majority of the Edo voters have made up their minds to vote for the man wey sabi.
We know the end of this case from the beginning. Barr. Asue Ighodalo will be sworn in as the next Governor of Edo State by the grace of God. Know this and have peace.
July 4, 2024
