The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital has upheld the April 2015 Delta state governorship election which brought in His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
The judgement which was delivered today, Tuesday 2 April, 2016, saw the Apex court upholding the earlier judgment of the delta State Election Tribunal and that of the Appeal Court.
The Judges in their wisdom, declared that the election was won by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
Okowa Urges Emerhor, Ogboru To Apologise To Deltans
Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has called on the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections and his counterpart in Labour Party (LP), Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor and Chief Great Ogboru respectively to apologise to Deltans for distracting them with legal battles they knew were not justifiable.
Senator Okowa made the call (02/02/16) in Asaba at a thanksgiving service held shortly after the Supreme Court upheld his election as duly elected Governor of Delta State.
According to the Governor who was flanked by his wife, Dame Edith, his Deputy and his wife, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro and Engr. Ebi respectively, the duo of Olorogun Emerhor and Chief Ogboru knew they did not win in the elections, yet, they went to the Elections Petition Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and then, to the Supreme Court, subjecting Deltans and lovers of the state to uncertainties.
“It is time to forgive and move on, I also believe that my opponents, Olorogun O’tega and Chief Ogboru should apologise to all Deltans, because, they knew the people’s choice but, they just wanted to go through this legal process,” he said, reiterating, “I have forgiven them but, I think they need to apologise to Deltans because, they distracted the people.”
He added, “we should forgive them, it is time to love ourselves, see ourselves as brothers and sisters fighting solely for the common good of our people; it is time for us to break away from the past, to begin a new partnership; it is time to have a collective approach to governance – community governance because, on our part, we promise to carry every one along in love and unity.”
Governor Okowa disclosed that he was not disturbed as the legal battle lasted as he had confidence in God and the fact that the people overwhelmingly voted for him, asserting that he defeated his opponents in their homes.
Earlier in a sermon, the Chaplain, Government House Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam said, “we are celebrating the unity among us, we are celebrating love among Deltans, God never fails and with God, all things are possible, God is doing great things in our state.”
