By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Tochukwu Okorie, has hailed the judgment of the Court of Appeal which restored him as the substantive Chairman of the party in the state.

The Court of Appeal Abuja Division had nullified and set aside the judgment of the FHC of April 13, 2022 which installed Mr. Silas Onu as Chairman PDP Ebonyi State chapter and restored Tochukwu Okorie as substantive Chairman of the party in the state.

In a unanimous decision, the three-man panel of Justices held that that the trial court erred when it assumed jurisdiction to hear the matter being an internal affair of the party which is not justiceable.

In his reaction to the ruling, the Chairman, PDP, Ebonyi State, Hon Tochukwu Okorie, in a statement described the judgment as victory for all and congratulated the members of the Party, stakeholders and entire Ebonyians for the victory.

The statement reads in part: “Yesterday, August 15, 2022 the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja summarily restored the mandate freely given to me by the members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the substantive Chairman of the party in Ebonyi State. I congratulate all our teeming members, unrelenting supporters, leaders, stakeholders and the entire Ndi-Ebonyi on this momentous victory.

“This victory is indeed our victory and I am humbled by the outpouring of love, solidarity and goodwill that have been showered on me, and most especially the way our members have tenaciously stood by me and the party throughout this period.

“I am therefore using this opportunity to implore our members to end the disagreements as the time to move forward is now.

“In a few weeks campaigns for the 2023 general elections will kick off in full steam. PDP remains the only grassroots party in Ebonyi State, the PDP remains the hope of restoration for the oppressed people of our dear Ebonyi State, the PDP remains the hope and the way forward for Ndi Ebonyi. The time to recalibrate is now.

“Consequently, in this collective victory, I am calling on all members of our party, aspirants, and candidates for various elective positions under our beautiful umbrella to close ranks with one another. Let’s work together to revive the love and brotherhood that gave us victories since 1999 till date. Let us be reminded that PDP has hardly lost election in Ebonyi State.

“In the next few days, we shall be rolling out our plans for greater PDP in Ebonyi State. The PDP is one united family, despite the fact that we may have different orientations, ambitions, and group loyalties, we are united under the capable umbrella.

“Let me specifically call on aggrieved members of the party to explore internal mechanisms in seeking peaceful resolutions of their grievances and let all hands be on deck working together for our collective victory.

“I want to assure us all that we shall keep our eyes on the ball and, God willing, will eventually achieve the desired outcome. PDP is the most entrenched and dominant party in Ebonyi State. This is the fact that must now be re-enacted,” he stated.

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