The Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River has expressed plans to contest Wednesday’s Appeal Court judgment that affirmed Gov. Bassey Otu as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The PDP made its decision known in a statement issued by the state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Mike Ojisi, which was made available to newsmen in Calabar on Thursday.
Ojisi noted that the verdict of the court of appeal which validated the victory of Otu, did not reflect the full conviction of the party’s position on the processes leading to the election.
The party chieftain however appealed to the PDP supporters in the state, to remain calm and law-abiding, while the party pursued its case through legal means.
“While we are saddened by this temporary setback, we are, however, glad that there is still room at the Supreme Court, and this is the beauty of our judicial system and democracy.
“We kindly appeal to our teeming supporters and party faithful to remain calm, as we are still committed to seeking legal opinions and exhausting all legal means toward reclaiming our mandate,” Ojisi said.
The court of appeal sitting in Lagos had on Wednesday, affirmed the tribunal judgment that upheld Otu’s victory after dismissing the PDP candidate’s petition for lack of merit.
Meanwhile, the governor, who had earlier urged the dissatisfied parties not to proceed with further litigation on the matter, said he remained unshaken by the petition against his electoral victory in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Giving his speech after the appeal court judgment, the governor said that he believed that the people of the state overwhelmingly gave him their mandate.
According to him, it was time for all, irrespective of political party affiliations, to join hands with him to move the state forward.
He further maintained that the affirmation of his victory by the appellate court had given him an added impetus to serve the state and move it forward with his ‘People First’ agenda.
“The ruling of the Court of Appeal is a welcome development, and it affirms that we were overwhelmingly voted in by the people on March 18, 2023,” Otu said.