The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday expressed its confidence in the newly constituted panel of the Court of Appeal to hear its case.
The Publicity Secretary of the faction, Mr Banji Okunomo, told newsmen in Akure that it was hopeful of justice at the appellate court.
Okunomo said that the faction’s candidate in the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, was the authentic candidate of party.
He alleged that there was injustice in the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Oct. 14.
“We believe in the law; we are protected by the law. The law is on our side to produce the candidate of our party because the only lawful PDP primary was held in Ondo.
“We believe that the judgment of Justice Abang would not stand in the face of the law. The same lawyer that stood for Biyi Poroye as a plaintiff also stood as a lawyer for the defendant.
“This cannot stand at the Court of Appeal. Our action is on the law and we believe we are going to get justice at the appellate court,” he said.
The faction had appealed against the ruling of the lower court which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to declare Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the authentic candidate of the party.
A panel led by Justice Jumai Sankey had withdrawn from further presiding over the case in the appellate court following a petition by one of the respondents in the case.
However, the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa had on Wednesday constituted a new panel of justices to handle all the appeals emanating from the legal tussle over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State between the Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee and Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff’s faction of the party.
In a letter with reference number, PCA/Abuja/VII/2016, Justice Bulkachuwa named Justice Ibrahim M. Saulawa as chairman of the panel, which has Justices Ignatius Igwe Agube and Godwin Mbaba as members.
The new panel will now hear appeals by the PDP and Chief Benson Akingboye and two others, Hon. Diri Kelly Adonye and another; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others; Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and another, Prince Biyi Poroye, and 10 others; and the appeal by Mr. Clement Faboyede and another.
“You are hereby empanelled to sit and determine the above appeals in the Abuja Division expeditiously. Fixation of dates to be worked out with the presiding Justice of the Abuja Division,” Justice Bulkachuwa said in the letter to the Justices.