A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Ngozi Okolie, representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency has said Hon Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), was on a wild goose chase in seeking to return as lawmaker.
He also said that he was not really on trial but democracy and the judiciary were on trial.
Okolie, elected on the platform of the Labour Party, yesterday reacted to a judgement of the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba which nullified his election.
The legislator pledged to defend the mandate freely given to him by the people who voted him to represent them.
Ngozi Okolie advised his supporters and the good people of Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency to remain calm as he remains their federal legislator until the appeal is heard and decided.
“Nobody will take the mandate of the Aniocha/Oshimili people from the back door. We shall overcome.
“My lawyers have briefed me about the judgment of the Tribunal earlier today. I plead with all my supporters and sympathizers to remain calm and keep hope alive.
“Ngozi Okolie is not the person on trial, but our democracy and judiciary is on trial. Thank God there is an opening for appeal and afterwards God is the final Judge. I have briefed my Lawyers to do the needful.
The tribunal had maintained that as of May 28, 2023 that the Labour Party did not duly sponsor Okolie as he was not a member of the party when the party primary was conducted.
