Edo poll: Oshiomhole hails Appeal Court judgement, PDP kicks

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ‎has rejected the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, which upheld the declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki as winner of the September 2016 governorship election.

It also vowed to seek justice at the Supreme Court.

The court had in a unanimous judgement read by Justice M. O. Bolaji-Yusuf, on Friday ‎dismissed the appellants’ for lack of merit.

The appellate court had explained that the tribunal’s conclusion was unassailable as it ‎gave a thorough and painstaking consideration to the issues raised by the appellants.

But the State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said that nothing would prevent the party from heading for the apex court, based on the strength of its case.

Orbih said, “I was in court and we were waiting anxiously to hear their verdict. But what we got was a very brief statement saying that they have dismissed the appeal. They did not give the reasons for their judgement.

“But on the strength of our case to the Appeal Court, I believe that there is nothing that will stop us from going to the Supreme Court‎ to see that justice is done on this case.”

However, the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who commended the judgement, said that the All Progressives Congress would not be ‎intimated even if the opposition chose to challenge the victory at a “world court”.

Oshiomhole explained, “The first time I said that PDP’s petition was like the petition filed by Mama Akara; they tried to twist it. Now, if you listened to the judgment, you will see that the Court of Appeal even had more harsh words for them that the findings of the tribunal was unassailable.

“So, they did not have to beat around the bush. This is clear and I just hope that the PDP can understand that their rigging machine that was dismantled in 2007, they cannot return it and our people can never welcome them back.

The former governor, who spoke to journalists, continued, “I think it is now for Godwin to concentrate fully. Happily, he is doing very well and now, with this clarity of his position, we have no doubt that he won the election. Even if the PDP wants to go to the world court we are ready.

“But the government will not be distracted and Edo people can be reassured that they voted wisely and they are getting the dividends of democracy that they voted for. I am excited.”Punch