RT. HON. CHISOM PROMISE DIKE ADDRESSES HIS FOLLOWERS AND PARTY FAITHFULS IN HIS HOME TOWN OKOLOMA, STATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO WITHDRAW HIS ELECTION PETITION AT THE TRIBUNAL, AND SET TO RE- STRATEGIZE THE APC IN RIVERS STATE.
The following are his words in event which look more like a homecoming celebration of a hero who has done well for his people..
“My dear party faithfuls and my supporters, I greet you all. I invite you here in order to give you an update on the political development as it concerns our matter in the Election Tribunal.
As you are aware we were dissatisfied with the conduct and outcome of the National assembly Election for Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai Federal Constituency which was held on the 25th of February 2023, this warranted our petition to the election tribunal which is sitting at Abuja.
The petition has been going on smoothly and the matter is even at the address stage for the respective parties to present their final address on 27th of July, 2023.
However, in the course of proceedings in the Tribunal, there was an unsavory development whereby the National Executive Committee of the APC distorted the Lawyers representing the party in all the petitions that involved the APC to withdraw APC from the various petitions that were pending in the Election Tribunal including our own.
This was done without recourse to the candidate who were in the cases before the Tribunal, this development could not have had any adverse legal effect on our petition but for the fact that it had the telling effect of dampening our morale and especially as the State Executive Committee of the party in Rivers State did not make even a whimper either to explain the reason for the action by the National Executive Committee or to even challenge the said action.
The harsh reality of this action by the National Executive Committee of the APC was that in the event of my case succeeding at the Tribunal wherein I was asking for cancellation of the election results, the APC will refuse to participate in the rerun election that may be ordered by the Honourable Tribunal and by law I cannot contest as an independent candidate.
Having regard to all the circumstances highlighted above and the well known principle of party supremacy, I reflected deeply and came to the conclusion that it will serve the best interest of my constituency if I should withdraw the petition from the Tribunal in order not to be seen as going against the express desire of my party.
I also felt that it will also advance the interest of my constituency and accord Mr. Felix Nwaeke the necessary rest of mind to concentrate and discharge his legislative duties at the National Assembly without any distraction.
I believe that the withdrawal of our petition will enable us to strategize and reposition our party in a better stead for future challenges and I also believe that I can play a more significant role in helping to remould our fractured party in the state into a more effective, result oriented and united unit. I received no personal gains or material incentives in arriving at my decision but I do it for altruistic reasons anchoring on the best interest of my constituency, our dear party APC and Rivers State at large.
I thank you for your support before, during and after the election. I thank those who took the risk of traveling to Abuja to testify before the Tribunal on my behalf. I may not know how to bless you but God shall bless you more bountifully.
I am your servant,
Rt. Hon. Chisom Promise Dike”
©️ Dike’s Associate
