“Sekibo’s Ouster Laughable” Rivers South East Youths

Members of the Rivers South East Youth Forum have described as laughable the recent Tribunal judgment that declared Hon. Andrew Uchendu as the authentic winner of the Rerun elections that held last year December 10^{th 2007.While} condemning the judgment, the group said it believed in the judiciary to be on the side of the people.

The group through its Publicity Secretary Ogbu Francisca said it is regrettable that the All Progressives Congress candidate can seek to come from the window to claim victory knowing well that it had no chance of winning the rerun that held last year due to the unpopularity of its candidate at the Senatorial zone and the party itself.

While urging the Appeal Court to upturn the judgment which clearly did not reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people, the group called on the people of the Senatorial zone to maintain all forms of maturity. “We are aware of the unpopular judgment of the Tribunal which has raised a lot of questions than answers. As we call on the Appeal Court to upturn this unpopular and jaundiced judgment of the Tribunal, we are urging all the people of the constituency especially the silent majority who stayed under rain and sun to vote Sen. George Thompson Sekibo as Senator representing the zone to be matured and patient despite the annoying judgment of the lower court which we believe will not stand the test of judicial interpretations at the appellate courts”.

The Rivers South East youth Forum lampooned the All Progressives Congress APC for been a threat to Nigerian democracy. It warned the party to avoid anti democracy tendencies which will at the end of the day become a problem to the country. The group wondered why somebody like Hon. Andrew Uchendu who accepted failure before the election will come to win the rerun elections when he did not campaign nor show any interest to win the elections.

The group said if the Tribunal judgment is allowed to stay, All Progressives Congress APC as a party will be seen as a party that is not interested in fostering democracy in the country. “We are aware of the anti-democratic posturing of the ruling party at the federal level but if the recent anti-democratic judgment of the Tribunal is allowed to stay, Nigerians will be left with no option other than to see the sting operations of the Department of State securities’ and other security agencies against some judicial officers as a ploy to force the judicial officers to do their bidding” the group posited.

The group while expressing disappointment at the way and manner the appeal process of Senator Sekibo is being frustrated, advised people of the Senatorial district to exercise patience and believe that the Appeal court will upturn the judgment. “It is sad that the appeal process of the judgment is being frustrated by the APC a party that has clearly shown that it is against democracy but be that as it is, we are advising members of the constituency to be patient as we do believe that the Appeal Court will do the needful” the statement said.