The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has congratulated Senator Ifeanyi Ararume on his victory at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Senator Ararume has declared the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Imo North Senatorial bye-election held on December 5, 2020.
Okorocha’s congratulation message was contained in a statement by his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemedo, which was made available to journalists in Owerri.
The former governor in his message said, “Senator Ararume, having served in the Senate for two terms before now, will be expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear for the good of the people of Imo North, Imo and Nigeria in general.”
In his reaction to the message, Senator Ararume expressed gratitude to God for his mercy. He said, “I am grateful to God. I thank God for His mercies.”
However, in his reaction, Ibezim, described the judgement as a miscarriage of justice, accusing the presiding judge over the case of engaging in “Judicial rascality.”
Ibezim said, “Today’s judgment is a sad commentary on our judicial process and democracy. Why Justice Taiwo decided to embark on this judicial rascality is still a surprise to me. The question is, on what premise did justice Taiwo deliver this judgment…. If it was a pre-election matter, it was filed out of time. If it is a post-election matter, Justice Taiwo does not have the locus to entertain it. It is the tribunal.
“Justice Taiwo is supposed to be reported to the National Judicial Council for judicial recklessness. The issue of who is the authentic candidate of APC for the Imo North bye-election was decided by the Supreme Court in its judgment on February 5, which went in my favor. Araraume was not a party to the bye-election.”
Earlier, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, declared Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the winner of the bye-election on the grounds that Ararume was the duly nominated candidate of the APC for the election.
The judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue Ararume a Certificate of Return within 72 hours from the date of the delivery of the judgment to facilitate his inauguration as Senator by the President of the Senate.
Justice Taiwo dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the APC and Chukwuma Ibezim challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain Ararume’s suit.
The judge held that the objection lacked merit because Ibezim being purported by APC as its candidate in the bye-election had been disqualified by a Federal High Court and later Court of Appeal for supplying false information to INEC, to secure clearance to participate in the election.
