The Imo State deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rt Hon Jones Onyereri, has expressed his displeasure over the tribunal’s verdict on Ideato North/South Federal Constituency election in the state, initially won by Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere in the February 25, 2023 general elections.

Onyereri, in a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to our correspondent in Abuja, said it has been established that pre-election matters are not intra-party affairs but inter-party, as only a political party determines who its candidates are or is as the case maybe, hence shouldn’t be entertained by court of competent jurisdiction.

“The Supreme Court had ruled on the pre-election matters as it has to do with venue and gave Hon. Ugochinyere victory before the 2023 general election.

“I see no reason the Tribunal should overrule the Supreme Court on the same matter that was ruled by the Apex court in the land. Justice Akpovi-led judgement should be reviewed and records set straight for the sake of posterity,” he stressed.

The deputy governorship candidate, however, urged the teeming supporters, fans and leaders of Ideato North/South Federal Constituency and members of the PDP to be calm and remain law abiding.

He said: “The Court of Appeal shall bring the expected and desired justice to the good people of Ideato Nation and Imo people at large because Ugochinyere’s victory at the poll was divine as it was victory for Imo people.

“We shall appeal this unjust verdict and we shall return home with victory. Be rest assured that our brother, your son and the voice of the voiceless, Hon Ikenga, shall conquer and overcome.

“We are solidly with Ikenga Imo on the struggle to entrench good governance in our society.”