By CHRISTIAN OGBONNA

Mr. Silas Onu, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), candidate in the Feb. 3 Ebonyi South Senatorial bye-election, says his disqualification from the election was “deliberate and political”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had on Thursday disqualified the PDP candidate, Onu in the senatorial by-election for the zone.

Delivering the judgment, Justice H. A. Ngajiwa, stated that the PDP candidate failed to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days’ notice of congresses for the by-election.

Onu, in his reaction, said the judgment given two days before the election was to create confusion in the process and ensure that his teaming supporters were discouraged from voting.

The candidate urged his loyalists not to be scared, assuring them that he would the stand for the election.

“I am going to appeal the judgment disqualifying me.

“Today, we received a contrived judgment from the federal high court, Abakaliki that PDP did not give INEC 21 days’ notice of congresses for the bye-election.

“While we acknowledge that the judgment is contrived and deliberately done for political reasons, we are filing our notice of appeal immediately to ensure that we legally continue our participation in the election.

“Our supporters are called to come out in their numbers and vote for PDP on Saturday, Feb. 3.

“The federal high court is not the final court in pre-election matters and as such our participation is sacrosanct and our votes will count.

“God bless the PDP and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Onu stated.

NAN recalls that INEC had fixed a by- election to fill the senatorial vacant seat following Mr. David Umahi’s appointment as Minister of Works. (NAN)