By Mudiaga Affe
The Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu has hailed the Appeal Court ruling which reaffirmed the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the 2020 governorship election.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday upheld the ruling of the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal against the Action Democratic Party (ADP), reaffirming the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the 2020 governorship election.

The Appeal Court, delivering the judgment in the case marked CA/B/EPT/GOV/01 & 1A/2021 Action Democratic Party & Anor v. INEC & 2Ors, held that Obaseki did not forge his certificates with which he contested the 2020 governorship election, dismissing the appeal filed by the ADP and its candidate.

In another case marked /B/EPT/GOV/02/2021 Action Peoples Party (APP) Vs Godwin N. Obaseki & 2Ors., the Court unanimously upheld the Judgment of the Tribunal and dismissed the Appeal with costs assessed at N600,000 each, on two different counts, as the governor won all eight issues for determination in the appeal.

Delivering the judgment in favor of the governor, the Presiding Justice, Hon. Justice M.A. Owoade, dismissed the main appeal, the preliminary objection, and the cross-appeal.

Obaseki, Shaibu Receive Certificates Of Return

The Judge noted that the inclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as respondents in the petition, was a ploy by Ize-Iyamu to fight his case through another petitioner, describing it as a case of ‘squeezing the rock for water.

However, Shaibu, who thanked God for the judgment, said that the court has delivered justice.

Shaibu said, “The court is the last hope of the common man, and that has been established today (Wednesday). From the tribunal to the court of Appeal, it is the same judgment. You can build something on nothing. The courts have been consistent in their judgment.

“My joy is that the judges displayed courage and also thank our legal teams and Edo people for their prayers. The judges have shown that the judiciary is not just independent but we have courageous judges that will deliver justice just as they have done today.”

Counsel to the Governor, Ken Mozia (SAN) said, “There were five appeals filed against the decision of the election petition tribunal, and the court today (Wednesday), in a virtual sitting, dismissed all five appeals. In order words, it affirms the decision of the tribunal.

“The issues essentially raised are the same. The various courts have repeatedly affirmed that the certificates are not forged; he didn’t provide false information and won the election.

“We won in the federal high court, the court of appeal, Abuja, tribunal, and now the court of appeal has now reaffirmed it by dismissing all five appeals.”