By Samuel Itsede
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State chapter has called on its teeming members and supporters across the state to remain calm following the Supreme Court ruling that sacked Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha saying that the party would soon brief members on the situation and next line of action.
State Publicity Secretary of party, Hon. Damian Opara who spoke exclusively yesterday, said that the PDP in the state has accepted the apex court judgement with equanimity pointing out that the party in the state and national is studying the situation at the moment.
However an All Progressives Congress APC, chieftain in Imo State, Dr Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe has congratulated Senator Hope Uzodinma and all APC members for the victory saying “Imo State has come back to APC where it originally belonged.
He added “People who called Rev. Mbaka names as a false prophet should now apologise to him publicly. Mbaka prophesied it and it has come to past. The highest court in Nigeria has said it and there is no going back. Congratulations to Senator Hope Uzodinma and His Deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku.
“Emeka Ihedioha tried his best. He fought like a lion. He outsmarted his opponents in the last governorship election. He should take it as a sportsman. Age is still on his side. He may one day be the Governor of Imo State. God bless Imo State.”
In Owerri, the state capital, members of the victorious APC and Camp Hope rolled out of the drums in frenzied jubilation while the state APC Secretariat that was hitherto deserted and desolate came alive once again.
For the PDP, it is a moment of mourning and leaking wounds as they grieved and complained over the Supreme Court ruling and most of the chieftains reluctant to comment on the verdict.
At various spots in three Council areas of Mbaise, where Ihedioha hails from, it was dead calm and sombre moment as their hope of producing the governor of Imo in the next four years was abruptly dashed.
Some anonymous commentators on the situation described the Supreme Court verdict as a rude shock but accepted it since it can no longer be appealed against.
