…Appeals to PDP National
By: Felix Ikpotor
Aspirant for Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana has vowed to do everything within the ambits of the law to resist any attempt to exclude him from the party primaries slated for next weekend.
This is even as he has appealed to the national secretariat of the party to look into his disqualification with the view to giving him the nod to contest the party primaries.
He said the ground with which he was disqualified doesn’t ‘hold water’ because he has fulfilled all guidelines of the party and the Electoral Act (2022 as amended).
Yamaabana who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt, decried the delay in the release of the appeal panel’s report, stating that it gives his opponent undue advantage over him as he cannot go about his consultation with party delegates.
He regretted that, ten days after the appeal panel heard his appeal, report of the panel was yet to be made public.
He said it became even more worrisome that the primary election for the House of Representatives is slated for 20th of May, just seven days away to the date, yet his fate is still unknown.
He appealed to the panel and the national leadership of the PDP to speedily clear him and release the report in his favour, as he has provided every needed document to give him a smooth sail in the election.
Yamaabana who is also the President General of Ogoni Youths Federation threatened to deploy all available legal options to ensure he contest the election.
“The grounds on which I was disqualified are; no evidence of resignation from previous employments and taxes not paid as at when due. I have stated it categorically that I’m not in the employment of anybody. I’m not in the employment of the Rivers State Government or a public servant, so I do not need to resign.
“I’m still in shock that uptil now the appeal panel has not released their report, ten days after I appealed, meanwhile screening committee released theirs two days after the screening. There is something fishy about these and I understand the clandestine moves but this will not deter us as we are poised to seek all legal means available to us to ensure that justice prevails because we cannot be disenfranchised,” he said.
He said: “I’m an aspirant in this election and I will not allow myself to be disenfranchised. I have vowed and promised the party that if my request is not given a favourable attention, I shall exploit all means within the ambits of the law to ensure that I’m not disenfranchised for any reason and there is no going back on this position”.
The Ogoni youth leader however, expressed strong hope that he’s going to get victory at the end of the appeal.
