Appeal Court Upholds Election of Godwin Obaseki of Edo State

By Lucky Isibor

Benin – The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin Friday, 9 June, upheld the judgement of  the Edo State election petition tribunal which affirmed the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 28, governorship election in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the APC, Obaseki, the winner of the election while  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu challenged INEC decision at the tribunal..  

Dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment, PDP and Ize-Iyamu through their counsels led by Yusuf Ali (SAN), filed 41 grounds of appeal against the tribunal judgment.

The two issues formulated for determination by the Appeal Panel were ruled against the PDP and Ize- Iyamu.

In the Appeal Panel’s ruling read by Justice M.O. Bolaji Yusuf,  held that the tribunal did a painstaking job in its judgement and consequently dismissed the appeal. 

“Therefore we find this appeal unmeritorious and is hereby dismissed and all parties involved would bear his or her own cost,” the judgement  said.

Reacting to the judgment, Obaseki said “one thing you must always know is that the truth never changes. I won the election. God has affirmed that I won the election; the court has now affirmed that I won the election. 

“We have done a little bit of work. I know that people are pleased with what we have done. But I want to assure them that it is only the beginning. we will put in everything we have to make sure that Edo State becomes the state that it should be,” he said.

On his part, counsel to the PDP, Barr. Imariagbe Godswill Edewi, said they are dissatisfied with the entire judgement and would appeal at the Supreme Court. 

“The Supreme Court would give the final say. We are not pulling out from the case. We are going to the Supreme Court,” he said.

The appeallate court had earlier dismissed the cross appeal by the All Progressives Party, APC.