BY: Nick Nwaneri, Calabar
A federal High Court sitting in Calabar has declared Prince Bassey Edet Otu, as the Governorship Candidate for the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) for 2023 general Elections
In suit No. FHC/CA/CS/95/2022, Senator John Owan Enoh had filled a matter asking the court to declare him as the authentic candidate to fly the party flag in 2023 election, that prince Bassey Edet Otu was wrongfully nominated and declared candidate by the screening committee of the party, APC
In her judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Calabar said the fact before the court indicated that prince Bassey Edet Otu’s nomination was not in error in anyway by the National Working Committee of the party, APC .
Justice Ojukwu also maintained that the National Working Committee (NWC) which has the final judgement on the clearance of aspirants certified with the certificate of price Otu, adding that the matter of determination of a candidate of a political party still remains the right of a political party.
In their separate reactions after the judgement, Barr Jacob Abang Dakim who held brief for Awa Kalu (SAN), council to Senator John Owan Enoh said that they have been mandated by their client to appeal the judgement immediately , though, Barr Dakim said the matter is a family matter and they are party members, and would not want to discuss their family matter in the market square
But Mr.Benson Egbano who held brief for Mike Ozekhome SAN, council for prime Otu said, the pronouncement by the court presided by justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is a victory for Democracy and not a personal victory for Prince Otu, adding that with the pronouncement, the stage is set for Senator Otu to move to the Government House come 2023.