NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA
It was indeed a heart-warming and cheering news from the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on February 14, 2023, as Hon. Justice B.O Quadri, delivered a judgement over a petition presented to the honourable Court on December 1, 2022, by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Izunaso, for the Imo West Senatorial District, against his major rival in the February 25, 2023 general elections, High Chief Charles Ahize of the Labour Party.
Just like other conspiracies against the rave of the moment and frontline senatorial candidate of Labour Party for Orlu Senate, Charles Ugochukwu Ahize-Chukwu, this latest political onslaught through legal action and distraction, also fell like a pack of cards as the judgement was delivered against the plaintiff, in this case, Chief Osita Izunaso of APC, and in favour of Chief Charles Ahize of Labour Party, also known as the Defendant, as the Plaintiff sought for the disqualification of the latter as Labour Party consensus candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District’s election slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023.
On his written address to the Court, Chief Osita Izunaso and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a Motion on Notice to effect change of Counsel in their suit in a petition with Suit No. FHC/OW/C’s/184/2022 (Formerly , FHC/OBJ/CS/1765/2022); seeking the leave of the Court to effect the change of Counsel. Unfortunately, no other Counsel on record announced appearance for the plaintiff except D. C. Denwigwe , SAN, as his lead Counsel; who lost to a rather young and vibrant Dr. Nelson Ezerioha (Ph.D Law), lead Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 1st Defendant, Labour Party as the second Defendant and Chief Charles Ahize as the third Defendant to the case.
In her wisdom and judgement, the honourable Court held that the petition was statute barred as the matter was filled outside the 14 days provided and prescribed by the law of the land, and secondly, that the plaintiff , Osita Izunaso of the APC, does not have the locus standi to take the Defendants to Court having not been a member of Labour Party. The Court therefore, described Chief Osita Izunaso as a meddlesome interloper or busy body for taking paracetamol over the headache of Chief Charles Ahize, who had joined hands with Peter Obi in Labour Party to champion the New Nigeria Project and Orlu Recovery Agenda.
By revealing your opponent’s hypocrisies is perhaps the most lethal offensive weapon in the moral arsenal. This heartwarming victory over Chief Osita Izunaso at the Federal High Court, Owerri, has given Chief Charles Ahize yet another opportunity to pass a strong message to the Orlu electorate that God is truly involved in his political aspiration to change the ugly representation approach in the Imo West Senatorial District.
Highly focused, dogged, courageous and result-oriented, Chief Charles Ahize knows that life itself is endless battle and conflict. And you cannot fight effectively and strategically unless you identify your enemies; real life enemies or political opponents. He has fought and won a number of legal and political battles, facing Osita Izunaso at the Court was another feat added to his list of victories.
On Saturday, February 25, 2023, Orlu people shall speak with one voice as they sustain the euphoria of this victory by massively voting for Peter Obi as Nigerian President and Chief Charles Ahize as Orlu Senator, to the glory of God!
© Njoku MacDonald Obinna