APC’s Godwin Obaseki triumphs as Tribunal upholds his governorship election

Edo Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressive Congress as the winner of the September 28, 2016 governorship election in Edo State.

The Ahme Badamasi-led tribunal held that the People Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate could not prove their petition beyond reasonable doubt.

PDP reacts

Reacting to the judgment, the PDP and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu rejected the ruling of the Tribunal describing it as one that could not stand at the higher courts.

Speaking after the ruling, Ize-Iyamu told PDP elders, leaders and party supporters at his campaign office that the battle had just begun saying, “From the snippets I heard of the tribunal judgment it cannot stand in the higher courts. This case must be pursued up to the Supreme Court.

“I want to thank God that we have all been able to reach this part of the journey. What gladdens my heart is that God will vindicate us in the long run.”

“Don’t be dismayed. We are still hoping for your support. I urge you all to be calm and refrain from being provoked into violence. Even if they push you laugh,” Iyamu said.

State chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party planned to appeal the tribunal ruling.

“I want to tell you that we have just started the journey as a party. I have no doubt that we are fighting a just cause,” he said and declined to give details on what happened at the tribunal.

“The mandate that was freely given to us by Edo people we have a duty to retrieve it. The party will go on appeal”

“Definitely we are going to appeal against the judgment. We reject the judgment of the tribunal; it is not acceptable to us.

“We have told our lawyers to appeal the judgment. The issues we raised in the petition were not addressed by the tribunal,” Ize-Iyamu said.

Reaction of the victor

In the meantime, the victorious Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of Edo has said that the Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment is a clear testimony that his victory at the Edo 2016 Governorship election is free and fair.

Obaseki said this while speaking with newsmen in Benin on Friday after the tribunal affirmed his victory at the Edo 2016 Governorship election.

The governor said that the judgment would rekindle his energy to work for the people of the state.

Obaseki commended the judges and his counsel for the level of professionalism displayed in handling the election petition.

He noted that the judgment was well-researched and clear that the opposition had no ground or merit in their petition.

Obaseki said, “This judgment is clearly a testimony that we won our election free and fair and that the people of Edo are solidly behind our party, APC and our government.”

“We thank God, we thank the judges, we thank our counsel for the amazing job they have done.

“We want all of you to go back peacefully and observe a wonderful holiday,” he said.

The tribunal affirmed the victory of Obaseki as the winner of the Governorship election held on Sept. 28, 2016.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenged Obaseki’s election, alleging widespread irregularities.

Obaseki contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Oshiomhole hails tribunal judgment, says judiciary still remains hope for common man

In his reaction, former Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal on the Edo 2016 Governorship Election, affirming the election of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin, Oshiomhole said the judiciary still remained the hope for common man.

“The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

‘‘The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like ‘Mama Akara’ judgment going to see over non-issue.’’

Oshiomhole further said that the judgment has shown that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.

‘‘This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.

‘‘But it has shown it (judiciary) has men & women of good charter of courage and knowledge,’’ he said.

Oshiomhole said one thing that pained him was that the judgment did not award penalty to the petitioners for bringing frivolous issues before the court.  He advocated that next time when such judgment would be given and it is established that the party has subjected the court to frivolity, the petitioner bringing such frivolity should be punished to deter others from wasting the time and resources of state, the immediate past Governor said.

In a related development, the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Victor Ohiosunua, has appealed to PDP chieftains to support Obaseki to develop the state. Ohiosunua made the call in in Benin after the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging Obaseki’s election.

“I want to appeal to the petitioners to join hands with the governor to develop and carry the state to the next level.

‘‘The business of the governor is tedious and the few five months the present governor has spent in the office, shows his capability and focus to take Edo to the next level.

‘‘The logical order the tribunal made today is the right one for them to make.

‘‘We are happy that the votes and wishes of the Edo people who voted on Sept. 28, 2016 has been restored,” Ohiosunua said.

Newsmen report that the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three-member Tribunal had dismissed the petitioners’ claims based on no credible evidence to prove their case. The tribunal, therefore, upheld Obaseki’s victory in the governorship election of Sept. 28, 2016, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

On his part, Ken Muzia (SAN), counsel to Obaseki who also commended the tribunal’s judgment, said the tribunal did a proper review of the evidence.

“The tribunal has done a fantastic job, what we should be thinking of is the development of the state,” Muzia added.