I Did Not Appeal Court Judgement on Defected 37 Reps Says Deputy Speaker, Ihedioha
Deputy Spaker, Emeka Ihedioha has said, contrary to the impression created by media reports, he did not appeal the court judgement on the defection of 37 members from the PDP to the APC.
In a statement by his spokesman, Oke Epia, he stated that he was mentioned as a nominal party in the suit by virtue of his office.
Ihedioha maintained that he remained a firm and committed member of the PDP and associates himself fully with its ideals, principles, purposes and progress.
Below is the full text
URGENT PRESS RELEASE – CLARIFICATIONS ON THE POSITION OF THE DEPUTY SPEAKER ON APPEAL AGAINST JUDGEMENT ON 37 DEFECTING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The attention of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON has been drawn to some Newspaper Reports, stating that he has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court concerning 37 members of the House that defected from PDP to APC.
2.For the avoidance of doubt, the Honourable Deputy Speaker wishes to clarify that he is just a NOMINAL PARTY in the suit by virtue of his office and counsel was briefed by the Management of the National Assembly to represent the House of Representatives as an Institution.
3. The appeal was primarily instituted by the 37 members who defected from PDP to APC.
4. His Excellency, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, CON remains a firm and committed member of the PDP and associates himself fully with its ideals, principles, purposes and progress.
5. The Deputy Speaker will take steps to retain an independent counsel of his choice to take steps to protect his legal interests in the matter.
6. This is to correct the impression conveyed by these publications that the Deputy Speaker is at odd purposes with his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
7. The media is therefore requested to be fully aware of the above clarifications in its reportage of the issues.
OKE EPIA
Chief Press Secretary, Deputy Speaker