‘Victory for the people’ — PDP hails s’court verdict affirming Umo Eno’s election

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the supreme court judgment that affirmed Umo Eno as governor of Akwa Ibom.

On Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed three separate appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Akanimo Udofia; Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its candidate, Albert Bassey, as well as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its candidate, John Udoedehe.

The petitioners had levelled several allegations against Eno, one of which was that he forged his secondary school certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the supreme court quashed all the petitions lacking merit.

In a statement, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, said the judgment is a “victory for Democracy and the decisive triumph of the will of the people” of Akwa Ibom State “in their determination to preserve good governance in their state”.

The PDP said the “spontaneous jubilation” across the South-south state shows that the “verdict is in line with their expressed will, aspiration and choice” of the people at the governorship election.

The party said Eno is a “humble, compassionate and visionary leader, a seasoned administrator with extensive managerial skills which he acquired over the years in both private and public sectors; qualities that continue to endear him to the people of Akwa Ibom State, and for which they overwhelmingly elected him at the poll”.

“Our Party is proud of his capacity for leadership especially in hitting the ground running upon inauguration with the launching of the Arise Agenda leading to monumental achievements in the delivery of life-changing citizen empowerment programmes and projects in critical sectors including Agriculture, Education, Healthcare, Security, Housing, Road infrastructure, Manufacturing, Commerce, Aviation among others,” the statement reads.

The PDP urged Eno to “remain steadfast in building on the legacies” of Udom Emmanuel, his predecessor.