Awka – The victory of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Care-taker Committee at the Supreme Court on Wednesday ignited jubilation among as members and supporters of the party in Awka, the Anambra capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP members and supporters were seen at public places, including eateries and bars, shouting the party’s slogan and declaring free drinks for people in celebration.
They described the development as “victory for the resurrection of real opposition’’.
Some of them, who spoke with NAN correspondent, said that with the judgment, the stage was set for real electoral contest in the Nov. 18 governorship election.
The state Chairman of the party, Mr Kenneth Emeakayi, simply said: “We are grateful to God. I will speak to you later.”
A PDP stalwart, Chief Ngozi Agudosi, said that the PDP would now take its rightful place, adding that in the shortest possible time, the state would witness the political vibrancy it is noted for.
“It is a landmark judgment. In Anambra State, PDP will now do the right thing and take over the government through the November 18 governorship election.
“There is no longer faction or no faction; PDP is now one united family; all our major stakeholders, all our members, it is now one big family covered by the umbrella.
“We will now sit down, talk very fast and move forward to take Anambra State House,” he said.
Also speaking, a former Executive Chairman of Awka South local government, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, described the judgment as one that has revived opposition in Nigerian politics.
“First of all, I will advise the Makarfi and Sheriff factions to come together so that they can build a viral opposition, because a government without a viral opposition is death to democracy.
“But where you have a viral opposition, the government will be called upon to sit up and do the needful.
“A viral opposition is both an advantage to the citizenry and to the government in power. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter,’’ Nwobu said.
The apex court upheld the election of Makarfi, a former Kaduna State governor as the authentic PDP after a protracted legal battle that factionalised the party.