Supporters of the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Senator Athan Achonu, have said there was no judgment yesterday against Senator Athan Achonu confirming Joseph Ukaegbu as the LP gubernatorial candidate in Imo State.
The Ukaegbu camp had jubilated, following a judgment of an Appeal Court sitting in Owerri throwing away the application of Senator Achonu who sought to join the matter which had earlier affirmed Ikechukwu Ukaegbu as the authentic Imo LP governorship candidate by the Bayelsa Federal High Court last month.
In a statement yesterday, the Athan Achonu campaign supporters group explained that the Appeal Court argued that Senator Achonu failed to file his application to be joined in the matter within the 14 day window permitted by the law.
The court simply said that Achonu cannot ask for leave of court to join in the appeals by Basil Maduka and Labour Party outside the 14 day window.
The statement reads: “There is no judgment today against Senator Athan Achonu or confirming one Joseph Ukaegbu as anything near the Labour Party Gubernatorial candidate.
“The Court of Appeal simply said that Achonu cannot ask for leave of court to join in the appeals by Basil Maduka and Labour Party outside the 14 day window. Meanwhile, the appeals are against the Justice Quadri judgment in Yenagoa, which is not harmful to the candidacy of Senator Achonu, as the court merely dismissed the Basil Maduka suit against Joseph Ukegbu for lack of jurisdiction; and in law, when a matter is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, it means that matter is dead.
“Senator Achonu was only seeking to join the appeal out of caution and not concerned, as the Justice Quadri judgment does not in any way harm his candidacy. But because that’s the normal protocol in political cases, even if the matter is as hopeless as the one instituted by Basil Maduka, one can join if not for anything, to effect presence.
“Please ignore it. This is an attempt to distract Senator Athan Achonu, as he is the only person who can defeat Hope Uzodimma in the coming elections. We are in full campaign gear, and nothing can stop us come November 11.”