The Labour Party (LP) candidate for Bendel Federal Constituency of Abia State in the last general election, Chief Frank Chinasa, said he is not taking his case against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu beyond the verdict of the Tribunal.
Chinasa who was challenging the election of Kalu said after the August 22 judgment of the National Assembly Election Tribunal which upheld the victory of the Deputy Speaker, the next option for him was Appeal but he would not go to the appellate court.
The House of Representatives contender who made his intention known at a press conference with select journalists in Abuja on Friday,
pledged to collaborate with Kalu to attract development to the Bendel Federal Constituency, Abia and the entire South/East.
“You would recall that soon after the elections, I filed a petition at the Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital and prayed the court to quash the declaration of Hon. Kalu who is now the Deputy Speaker of the House by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and declare me the actual winner of that election.
“But the tribunal in its ruling on August 22, 2023 delivered judgement in Kalu’s favour, which was not what we expected; upholding his victory. With the pronouncement of the Tribunal, the next option available to me is the court of appeal.
“But while everyone expects me to journey up to the appellate court in the struggle, I am here to inform the world that I am no longer interested in taking the matter any further beyond the tribunal. This simply means that I have decided to let go of the case,” he said
Chinasa stated that his decision was not just made on the heels of the tribunal’s judgement but was rather, a resolution taken out of brotherly love and sheer understanding of their common root and patrimony of Bende heritage.
He stressed that the decision is not an act of judicial cowardice or a product of physical persuasion or coercion but a voluntary action that stems from the realm of brotherly love and admitting that appeals from people of high repute, religious and social standing, hence the need to heed their noble advice.
“Kalu and I have a history that has run into decades which cannot be ruined by the transient political activities of today. First, we are brothers from Bende. Second, we are good friends and third, we intrinsically share the same objective of good representation of our people.
“At this juncture, it must be unequivocally stated that my decision to run for this election, ab initio, was to give our federal constituency the quality representation that it deserves, judging from the poor and under-representation that has bedeviled it over years.
“But here comes a young man who in his first term tried to elevate fortunes of the constituency. And now is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. The number 6 citizen in the political hierarchy of this great country-Nigeria. If this is not a huge blessing to our constituency, then, tell me what it is.
“I have come to reason that if highly revered people, elders from our State, the south east region and indeed, Nigeria will celebrate Ben and applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the entire members of the Green Chambers of the National Assembly for giving Ndigbo such a position, why then, should his immediate brothers from the same constituency be seen to be the ones pulling him down? This does not make any sense in any conceivable way!
“But then, let this not be misconstrued to mean that my going to the tribunal was wrong in the first place. No! I want to categorically submit that it was well within my democratic and constitutional rights and privileges. And even Ben should understand that. What now matters is that we have eventually allowed wisdom and brotherly love to win.
“Of course, I already know that many quarters will feel jolted and offended by this decision. I hereby appeal to all men of goodwill with saner democratic credentials to understand that if even I win the matter in court, I may not possibly become the deputy speaker.
“The import of this is that I would have wasted a golden opportunity for Ndi Bende, Ndi Abia and Ndigbo as a whole. Besides, let’s not also forget that ultimately, God gives power, Chinasa added.
While dismissing any plan to join the ruling All Progressive Congress,
he said:”In taking this decision, let me also state that it does not take away my right of fair and constructive criticisms against Kalu’s actions and inactions for the good and best interest of our federal constituency. But for now, it suffices to say that Ben is our representative.
“I express profound gratitude to God Almighty, my family, H.E Dr. Alex Otti, my party- the Labour Party; and the good people of Bende federal constituency. To my campaign team and diehard followers, I would say: aluta continua! Let’s keep hope alive! If we don’t win today, we may win tomorrow.”
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