Supreme Court Verdict: Chief Emaye Congratulates Oborevwori, Says It Is Victory For Democracy
By Rejoice Egbaseimokumor
Prominent Niger Delta leader, Double chief Benidiwei Monday Emaye (JP),
The Amatukpa of Ogulagha kingdom has congratulated His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State on his victory at the Supreme Court.
Chief Emaye who is Special Assistant (SA), community development to the governor of delta state issued the congratulatory message to newsmen in Warri yesterday via a statement he personally signed, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide.
In the statement, Chief Benidiwei had described the victory as interesting and a victory for democracy, stressing that the court verdict is a true reflection of the will of Deltans.
However, the SA to Governor Oborevwori on community development had charged Deltans to continue to support the Governor on his quest to reposition the state as first class state with massive infrastructural development.
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the election of Sheriff Oborevwori as the duly elected governor of Delta State.
Mr Oborevwori, who was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared the winner of the 18 March governorship election by Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC.
He defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who proceeded to the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the result declared by INEC.
In its judgement on Friday, a five-member panel of the court led by John Okoro dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Omo-Agege on the election dispute.
“The appellants (Mr Omo-Agege and the APC) have not been able to discharge the burden of proof placed on them. The appeal lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed,” Mr Okoro said while delivering the court’s unanimous decision on Friday.
The Supreme Court upheld the concurrent findings of both the tribunal, which had earlier dismissed Mr Omo-Agege’s petition, and the Court of Appeal in Lagos affirming the tribunal’s decision.
