President-general of Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Legborsi Yamaabana, has declared that he decided not to challenge the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which upheld a lower court ruling on his suit because it may affect the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be on the ballot in the Khana/Gokana federal constituency in Rivers State.
The youth leader, an aspirant on the platform of the PDP for Khana/Gokana federal constituency, had gone to the Appeal Court to challenge the judgement of the Federal High Court, which upheld the emergence of Hon Dumneme Dekor as the party’s candidate for the constituency, but the appellate court ruled in favour of the respondent.
Yamaabana, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt yesterday, said although the window is still open for him to approach the Supreme Court, the PDP may end up not presenting any candidate for the federal constituency during the election, going by the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He said, “As you all know, I am a youth leader with strong influence across Ogoniland, and the larger Rivers society. I ran for the House of Representatives seat for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but was denied right of participation even after I acquired the nomination and expression of interest forms, fulfilling the required criteria for me to contest that primaries, in line with the PDP guidelines and Electoral Act.
“I challenged that decision up to the Appeal Court. The window of appeal up to the supreme Court is still open, but I have chosen not to so do.
“The reason is that, based on the current Electoral Act, if I proceed to Supreme Court, even where my opponent loses, I will not be allowed to contest the polls because I did not participate in the primary elections.
“And that can deny the PDP the opportunity of presenting a candidate for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections. As a committed and loyal party man, I am making this sacrifice in the interest of our great party, the PDP.
“I am a member of the PDP, I believe in the PDP and no matter what happened, I will not leave the PDP.”
Even the beneficiary of my political benevolence on this issue – Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor, for the sake of the PDP, I will cast my vote for him, and I urge all my supporters to toe the same path.
“This clarification has become imperative because some people may think that my not pushing ahead to the supreme Court may be due to some financial undercurrent. I can assure you that nothing as such happened and I am not that kind of person.”
The PDP chieftain used the opportunity to call on his supporters in the Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, to vote massively for the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Siminalaye Fubara.
He said: “May I seize this medium to applaud the Executive Governor of Rivers State for his landmark performance and call on my teeming supporters in Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, and Ogoni to vote massively for the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Sim Fubara. “Fubara is not only young and competent, he is also experienced, a technocrat and astute administrator. He will certainly consolidate on the extraordinary achievements of Governor Wike.
“A vote for Sim Fubara is the only way to guarantee youth inclusion in the governance of Rivers State. Ogonis equally stand a great chance of ensuring that our quest for political emancipation, economic empowerment, equity as well as human capital cum infrastructural development for Ogoni, can be achieved.
“This election is about our lives, existence and political future as Ogonis. I see hope and therefore, is urging Ogonis to stand with Sir Sim Fubara in the greater interest of our people.”
