Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has survived formidable  challenges to his position into the new year, with the rulings by the Court of appeal today, upholding his election on 11 April.

It was a perfect Christmas gift for the governor as the court dismissed the challenges by Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress.

Both Ogboru  and Emerhor appealed  the judgment of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had affirmed the election of  Okowa.

However, in his ruling  Justice Mrs  Uwani Abba-Aji, sitting in Abuja said that the appeals lacked merit.

The appellate court panel of five Judges presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji  first dismissed the appeal of the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Great Ogboru.

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

Great Ogboru, Labour Party Candidate

The court held that the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal for Delta 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 April 11 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 Dec. 17, reserved judgment in the appeals to a date to be communicated to the parties.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa,  however, moved the sitting of the panel to Abuja, though no reason was given for the decision.

Uwani Abba-Aji headed the new panel constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa. (Read our earlier story:  Delta governorship tussle: Appeal Court panel moved to Abuja

Meanwhile, the APC candidate has said that he is not satisfied with the decision of the appellate court and will consult his team of lawyers on the next line of action.

However,  the South-South Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Cairo Ojuogbo, has hailed the decision of the panel of judges.

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

The Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly,  Monday Igbuya  congratulated Okowa for his victory.

He also praised the judiciary for remaining the bastion of democracy and the hope of the electorate, especially the good people of Delta State.

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

In a statement issued in Sapele, the speaker described the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja as incisive and fair.

“Your victory at the Court of Appeal shows that God and the people of Delta State clearly approved your candidature.

Igbuya enjoined Chief Great Ogboru and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor to support Governor Okowa in transforming the state.