Jegede: We’re not moved by judges’ withdrawal, says Ondo PDP

The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has said it was not disturbed by the withdrawal of Justice Jumai Sankey-led three-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja from hearing the appeal filed by the faction.

It was gathered that the Sankey-led panel withdrew from further presiding over the cases following the petition by one of the respondents in the cases, Mr. Biyi Poroye, who had earlier obtained the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja recognising Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the party in November 26, governorship election in Ondo State.

Speaking with our correspondent on the development, the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP in the state, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, said the faction still had hope in the judiciary and that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa would set up a new panel that would do justice to the cases.

“But we are a bit worried because the agents of Jimoh Ibrahim have decided to attack the personality of members of the panel without any evidence to support their assertions.He said, “This is a temporary set back but we do have absolute confidence in the court of appeal that within the next few hours, it would constitute another panel to take off from where the last panel left us.

“The truth of the matter is that it is now obvious that an unscrupulous group in the PDP is holding mission to destroy the party and I make bold to say that they are working in tandem with the APC and the Buhari’s Presidency on this course.

“This is not a statemanly attitude and I think the government that we elected into power at the federal level should sit and settle down to work in the interests of every Nigerian and not to indulge in the play of dirty politics.

Fadaka said the party would not despair, saying the new panel that would be constituted would not be compromised, saying “we still have distinguished men and women on the bench because we saw that in the panel that just withdrew.”

He explained that the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the PDP was intimidated by the integrity of the panel that withdrew, saying that was why it ( Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction)  allegedly blackmailed the panel.

He however said the supporters of Jegede across the state would continue working ahead for the  election because, according to him, he (Jegede) would eventually get justice and contest the election.