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Published on 2024-02-02 10:44:13
The Federal High Court in Abakaliki has disqualified the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate, Silas Onu, from the upcoming Ebonyi Senatorial bye-election, which was scheduled for Saturday, February 3. This ruling has dealt a significant blow to Onu’s senatorial ambition for Ebonyi South.
The court’s verdict was based on the grounds that Onu did not provide the required 21 days’ notice of congresses to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the bye-election. This decision came just two days before the scheduled senatorial election, creating confusion and demoralizing his numerous supporters.
Despite the setback, Onu has vowed to appeal the judgment and has received an endorsement from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Onu expressed his belief that the timing of the judgment was deliberately intended to discourage his supporters from participating in the voting process, but he reassured his party followers not to be afraid. He emphasized that he remains committed to participating in the election and encouraged his supporters to come out in their numbers and vote for the PDP on Saturday, February 3.
Before the court judgment, Atiku Abubakar had urged Ebonyi South Senatorial District supporters to support the PDP candidate. In a Facebook post, he called on the voters in the district to give their unalloyed support to Barrister Silas Onu, emphasizing that the people stand to benefit from Onu’s skills and the vibrancy of his youth.
In another development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun to gain the upper hand in the forthcoming by-election in Kaduna. In the Chikun Constituency of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, candidates from four political parties have collapsed their structure for the APC candidate. The candidates revealed that the decision was informed by the governor’s performance over the past several months.
It is evident that the disqualification of Silas Onu from the Ebonyi Senatorial bye-election has generated significant political interest and is shaping the dynamics of the upcoming election. The court’s ruling and the subsequent appeal by Onu, as well as the endorsement from Atiku Abubakar, have added complexity to the political landscape in Ebonyi State, setting the stage for a closely watched and highly contested bye-election.
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