The crisis in the Ebonyi chapter of the People People’s Democratic Party has taken a new twist as the national leadership of the party has recognised Mr Tochukwu Okorie as its authentic chairman.
PDP National Chairman Senator Iyochia Ayu, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, stated this in a letter dated 31st May 2022 to the Independent National Electoral Commission, according to The Nation.
They explained that the party’s decision was in obedience to a judgement by the Appellate court, which upturned the judgement of a Federal High Court that hitherto recognised Silas Onu.
There has been a leadership tussle in Ebonyi PDP between Okorie who was elected Chairman in the party’s State Executive Election last year and Onu who served as the Publicity Secretary of the party in an acting capacity.
Miffed by the outcome of the election, Onu filed a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja claiming that he was the only candidate who purchased the form for the position of the party’s chairmanship.
In its judgement, the Federal High Court granted Onu all the reliefs sought to prompt immediate swearing-in of the plaintiff by a notary public.
However, Okorie proceeded to Appeal Court for a stay pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Though it was granted, Onu held onto power claiming that there was an order of the Federal High Court restraining the application of a stay on a judgement that had been implemented.
Onu also went ahead to conduct the primary elections for the state and national assembly positions as well as that of the governorship position on Sunday.
Messrs Ayu and Anyanwu had in obedience to the High Court ruling written to INEC recognizing Ọnụ as the Chairman of the party
The recent letter to INEC was in obedience to the appeal court order sacking Onu and reinstalling Okorie.
