The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday lambasted the Labour Party (LP) for selecting Bright Ngene, a candidate with a criminal record, to run for Enugu South State Constituency 1 in the 2023 general election.
The PDP criticised the LP for trying to shift blame and claiming political persecution when, in fact, Ngene’s conviction was a result of his own community’s actions against him for stealing N15.7 million.
The PDP argued that the LP’s attempt to link the conviction to a pending rerun election was baseless and shameful.
The party demanded that the LP take responsibility for their candidate’s actions and stop making false accusations.
The party which stated this while addressing journalists on the controversy surrounding the judgement of the magistrate court, PDP Chairman Augustine Nnamani said: “For the avoidance of doubt, and as the case file number (MEN/ 225C/2017) clearly indicates, this is a matter of conspiracy and stealing filed in the Enugu South Magisterial District of the Enugu State Magistrate Court against the 1st Defendant, Bright Ngene, and two others way back in 2017.
“Let it also be known that the Akwuke/Akwuke Uwani Communities lodged the complaint with the police. After a painstaking investigation, the Defendants, including Bright Ngene, were indicted and consequently arraigned before His Worship A. O. Eze on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing on 21st day August, 2017. The Defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to both counts and were granted bail.
“The Prosecution opened their case on the next adjourned date, being 11th September, 2017, calling witnesses before closing their case.
“Rather than marshal their defence, the Defendants initially made a no case submission. However, the court dismissed it and ordered them to commence their defence.
“Next, Bright Ngene wrote to the Chief Judge of Enugu State seeking the transfer of the matter from His Worship A. O. Eze to another court to start trial denovo (anew), a request the Chief Judge refused for lacking in merit.
“Ngene did not relent, as the matter was ultimately reassigned to His Worship E. D. Onwu, and the matter started denovo. The Prosecution called their witnesses, who testified afresh and were thoroughly cross-examined by the Defence. Ngene (1st Defendant) equally testified in person for himself and also called witnesses, who testified on his behalf before closing his case,” he said.
The party, therefore, underscored the fact that not only was the LP House of Assembly candidate charged at the instance of his people many years predating the 2023 election, but also that the delays in the trial were “were mostly at the instance of Bight Ngene (1st Defendant), who kept applying to the Chief Judge for reassignment of the case and filing actions in the superior courts to stall the trial.”
“So, rather than attempting to whip up unnecessary sentiments, intimidate and smear the judiciary, and blackmail the Enugu State Government, the LP should actually bow their heads in shame that in such a high profile and star-studded constituency with a proven history of men and women of integrity, outstanding political leaders, intellectuals, and technocrats, who have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavour, LP only found a man put on trial since 2017 by his own people for stealing their N15,750,000 as the most suitable candidate.
“Indeed, the fact that the court finally upheld the allegation of conspiracy and stealing against Ngene by his own people calls to question the votes he claimed to have obtained in the 2023 State House of Assembly.
“How could the same people he has now been confirmed by the court to have stolen from have given him their votes in the first place?” the PDP added.
The PDP advised LP and Ngene to exercise their right of appeal or “carry their self-laden cross instead of this attempt to run down the judiciary and blame others for their own self-inflicted woes.”
