Delta Gov’ship: LP Chair, hails Appeal Court’s order, referring petition to tribunal
..says Pela will emerge victorious
By Tom Okpe
National Chairman of the Labour Party, (LP) Barr Julius Abure has described the Appeal Court’s judgement in Delta state governorship election as a victory for democracy and a clear testimony that judiciary can be effective, impartial and truly, conscience of the masses.
The National Chairman also called on other judicial institutions in Nigeria to take a cue from the Asaba Appeal Court and dispense judgment without fear or favour, in spite of persons involved.
Delta election petition tribunal had dismissed LP’s case against candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) over alleged abandonment by the petitioners, but the Appeal court in a landmark judgement disagreed with the tribunal and refered the petition back to the tribunal for onward hearing.
According to the LP National Publicity, Obiorah Ifoh in Abuja on Thursday in a statement, Abure said with the Appeal Court’s ruling, the party is given opportunity to prove its case at the tribunal.
He said: “We are pleased with the position of the Appeal Court. We were shocked at the decision of the tribunal to stifle prematurely, our matter.
“We were not allowed to present our matter. Justice was not served and that made us to approach the appellate court requesting for review of the case which the tribunal had rejected.
“With the Appeal Court, overturning the tribunal’s judgement, we are happy that we can now reopen our case again, against the PDP candidate who was erroneously declared winner of the last election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
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“LP won the governorship election in Delta State and like in most other states, some undemocratic elements had conspired to snatch the state from us, went ahead to use the tribunal to stop us from proving that we won.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the judiciary and urge them to always stand on the ground of justice and fairness in dispensing every other cases brought before it, whether at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal or states tribunal, (PEPT); the people’s wishes must be respected at all times.
“Nigeria’s democracy will gain more, when right judgments are given,” he stated.
