Jubilation in Edo as Appeal Court upholds Obaseki’s election

The Appeal Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, on Friday upheld the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin, headed by Justice Ahmed Badamasi, had in April upheld Obaseki’s election as governor as declared by the  Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
The election was held on September 28, 2016.
The PDP candidate, Ize-Iyamu, not satisfied by the verdict of the lower tribunal, filed an  appeal through his lawyers,  led Yusuf Ali (SAN).
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 judgement 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.
After the judgement, there was jubilation in many towns in the South-South state.
Chief Dan Orbih, the Edo Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) said the party would not relent until it gets justice.
Orbih, in his reaction to the appeal court judgement, said 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,  Mr Anselm Ojezua, the State APC Chairman lauded the Appeal Court Judgment, saying the judgment was instructive.
He, therefore, advised the PDP to embrace and accept the Appeal Court judgement and join hands with the Obaseki-led administration to move the state forward.
Obaseki hailed the judgement, saying that, his election was ” Democracy in Action” 
He said that even at the Supreme Court, he would still be declared winner, noting that, he would not be distracted by the PDP appealing the case at the Supreme court.
He thanked the people of Edo for their support till date.
In his reaction, the former  governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, described the Appeal Court judgement as a reaffirmation of the will of Edo people.
Oshiomhole, who commended the judiciary, said the judgement was in line with the wish and aspirations of the people of Edo.
He said that APC would still win at the Apex Court if the PDP decides to take the case to Supreme Court.