Appeal court upholds Okowa’s election as Delta gov

The court of appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta state.

Dismissing the petition filed by Great Ogboru, candidate of the Labour Party in the April 11 governorship election, the court upheld the verdict of the tribunal.

Ogboru had asked the appellate court to overrule the tribunal by annulling the election of Okowa.

He alleged the poll was marred with irregularities and also contravened provisions of the electoral act.

But in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel led by Uwani Abba-Aji, the court dismissed Ogboru’s petition for lacking in merit.

In a separate judgment, the court also dismissed another appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

The court held that the tribunal was right in dismissing the respective petitions of Ogboru and Emerhor against the election of Okowa in its separate judgments.

The appellate court held that cross appeal filed by Okowa asking for his declaration as the validly elected governor by majority of the votes cast in the election succeeded.

The court held that both Ogboru and Emerhor failed to substantiate the allegations of non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act in the conduct of the election.

Specifically, the court held that Ogboru failed to prove the allegation that the figure of the declared result in the election was higher than the number of accredited voters.

“The appellant fails to prove the allegation of corrupt practices against the electoral umpire,’’ Abba-Aji said.

Ogboru and Emerhor had filed the respective appeals seeking to upturn the decisions of the tribunal, which had upheld the election of the governor.

The appellate court panel had sat on the respective appeal in Benin and had, at its last sitting on December 17, reserved judgment in the appeals to a date to be communicated to the parties.

Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the court of appeal, moved the sitting of the panel to Abuja, though no reason was given for the decision.

However, mixed reactions have trailed the ruling of the court.

Expressing dissatisfaction, Emerhor said he will consult his team of lawyers on the next line of action.

Cairo Ojuogbo, the south-south deputy chairman of the PDP,  has hailed the decision of the panel of judges.

Ojuogbo, who spoke to reporters after the judgment, said the decision was “well thought-out’’.

Monday Igbuya, speaker of Delta state house of assembly, described the ruling as the best “Christmas gift for the people of Delta”.

He praised the judiciary for remaining the “bastion of democracy” and the hope of the electorate.

“This is the best Christmas gift to Delta State and Deltans,” he said in a statement.

“Okowa’s leadership goes beyond the incredible speed and cost of providing critical infrastructure, prompt payment of salaries to workers and benefits to pensioners, encouragement of constructive criticisms, tolerance of the opposition, creating conducive environment for business to thrive and jobs for the people.”