Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has again, defeated his opponent in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Edo State Governorship election, as the Appeal Court has affirmed his victory. Obaseki first floored Iyamu when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the election, which was held on September 28 last year.
The election petition tribunal had also, in April this year, upheld Obaseki’s election as governor of Edo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that counsel to both parties on May 30, argued their briefs, where Obaseki’s counsel, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal, saying that the grounds of the appeal were watery.
In the judgment read by Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem, the five-man panel said the tribunal did a painstaking job in considering evidences presented before it. This, he said, made the job easy for them.
Chief Dan Orbih, the Edo Chairman of the PDP said the party would not relent until it gets justice.
In his reaction to the appeal court judgment, Orbih said that it was too early for him to say what went wrong that the Appeal had to dismiss the case.
He said that the party was yet to get copies of the judgment, but expressed optimisms that the party had a good case.
“In view of this, after reading through the copies of the judgment when made available, I can assure you, we will take our case to the Supreme Court.”
He however said that he had appealed to party faithful to remain calm and law abiding pending when the party will reclaim its stolen mandate.
In contrast, Anselm Ojezua, the State APC Chairman lauded the Appeal Court Judgment, saying the judgment was instructive.
He advised the PDP to embrace and accept the Appeal court’s judgment and join hands with the Obaseki-led administration to move the state forward. [myad]
