The Divine Mandate Movement, DMM, a leading political structure in Imo State has expressed shock over Supreme Court judgement nullifying the Imo West Senatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that produced Hon. Jones Onyeriri as its candidate.
Hon. Onyeriri a former House of Representatives member who represented Nwangele/Isu/Njaba/Nkwere Federal Constituency won with 228 votes to defeat his closest rival, ThankGod Ezeani, who polled 118 votes while Hon Jerry Alagbaoso got 57 votes.
The court nullified the Imo West senatorial primary on grounds that the primary election for the senatorial district which held in Owerri was in contravention of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act.
Divine Mandate Movement described the judgement of the apex court as uncalled-for, saying that holding the primary poll in Owerri was not in violation of any known law.
According to the DMM, the PDP having notified INEC of a suitable venue for the primary election, citing prevalent security situations in the state as at the period for the election which was acknowledged by INEC breached no law.
In a statement issued by Director of Media and Publicity, Sunny Onyeukwu, the DMM stated that the decision of the party was targeted at ensuring safety of party delegates and the electoral officers who conducted the primary.
The DMM insisted that the people of Imo West Senatorial District prefer Onyeriri as their next senator.
It however sympathized with Onyeriri and members of the PDP in Orlu Zone over the development, dismissing the verdict of the apex court as a ‘travesty of judicial infamy and a grand conspiracy by sworn enemies of the PDP.
According to the DMM; “We sympathize with our brother, friend and associate, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Imo West, Rt. Hon Jones Onyeriri and members of PDP in Orlu zone. The judgement of the apex Court was a *travesty of judicial infamy* and a grand conspiracy by sworn enemies of our great party, PDP.
It however urged the teeming supporters and party faithful in the zone to remain calm and law-abiding as the future was indeed bright.
