Posted by VINCENT EGUNYANGA, Abuja and NNAMEKA MERIBE, Lagos on
ANAMBRA State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday engaged his Lagos State counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in secret talks for hours even as he expressed confidence that the Appeal Court would quash the verdict of the election petition tribunal which nullified his election as governor.
ANAMBRA State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, yesterday engaged his Lagos State counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in secret talks for hours even as he expressed confidence that the Appeal Court would quash the verdict of the election petition tribunal which nullified his election as governor.
Similarly, officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by its chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu will today deliberate on the ruling of the Justice Garuba Nabaruma-led tribunal which gave victory on the April 19, 2003 gubernatorial poll in Anambra State to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
However, Daily Champion observed that Gov. Ngige who arrived Lagos State secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja about 2 p.m. was immediately ushered into Gov. Tinubu's oval office.
Thereafter, the duo met behind closed door for about one and half hours while newsmen were barred from the parley.
Although the outcome of the meeting was not made public, Daily Champion gathered that the August 12 nullification of Gov. Ngige's election by the tribunal dominated the talks.
Meanwhile, INEC officials will meet in Abuja today to deliberate on the ruling of the Anambra Election Petition Tribunal.
INEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Steve Osemeke, who confirmed this to Daily Champion said the commission will also discuss the Owerri senatorial zone bye election as well as bye elections across the country.
However, speaking with newsmen yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ngige who filed his appeal on Monday assured his supporters that he would get justice.
"I want to assure you that we will get justice. I am a person that believes in the rule of law because democracy is anchored on the rule of law. Therefore, to that extent, we are challenging the verdict of the Nabaruma-led tribunal," he said.
Describing the verdict as "a miscarriage of justice", Ngige said the declaration of Mr. Obi as the governor violated the Electoral Act of 2002.
The governor who said he was in Lagos to meet with his team of lawyers, wondered why he was the only one that was being singled out to fall among all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors that won elections in 2003.
"It is ridiculous, absurd, unbelievable and incongruous that in the 2003 election of PDP governors, I am the only one that is being ruled out," he wondered.
Resigning his fate to God, he noted that "those who are planning it are not God. It is only God who can take a final decision on any matter. We are going to the Appeal Court with a full battery of strong legal men and we shall open the fire. I am optimistic that the Federal Court of Appeal will give me justice."
Offering an insight into his grounds for appeal, he said Obi cannot just attack result of the election since he did not join any of the presiding officers to count the votes.
Besides, he added that none of the presiding officers was joined as a respondent in Obi's suit.
A group known as Congress of Igbo Agenda (CIA) was at the airport to pledge their support for the embattled governor.
President of the group, Rev. Chukwudi Peace assured the governor of the group's support, saying that CIA would make South-East ungovernable if the governor is removed.
"So we want to let you know that Ndigbo are solidly behind you and if anybody could try anything to remove you from your position or stop the good work you have been doing, no matter what, we are assuring them that South-East will know no peace, we will make it ungovernable," Peace who is also president, Ngige Mandate Group warned.