Obaseki Floors Ize-Iyamu At Election Tribunal

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Benin on Friday upheld the election of Godwin Obaseki as Edo State governor.

Justice Ahmed Badamasi, who led a three member tribunal, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as lacking in merit.

Obaseki was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Badamasi held that the petitioners failed on all fronts to prove the allegations as pleaded in their petitions.

“The petitioners have failed to prove their case with credible evidence and is therefore dismissed,” he said.

The tribunal held that while the petitioners abandoned some of their pleadings, witnesses’ evidences were controverted under cross examination.

“The much talked about ticking and over voting by the petitioners have not been specifically proven beyond reasonable doubts.

“And not calling witnesses to prove their allegations of corrupt practices and over voting was fatal to their case and is deemed to have abandoned their pleadings,” the tribunal chairman stated.

Badamasi therefore held that the petitioners have failed to prove their case with credible evidence to show that they are entitled to their pleadings.

“Accordingly, the petition has failed and is hereby dismissed,” he said.

The petitioners had listed INEC, Obaseki and the APC as first, second and third respondents.

Ize-Iyamu had asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Obaseki and declare him winner, having scored majority of the lawful votes cast among other reliefs.

He averred that INEC was wrong to had declared Obaseki winner of the September 28, 2016 governorship election.

Ize-Iyamu also alleged that the election was fraught with corrupt practices and over voting.

He added that INEC did not comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in the conduct of the said election.

meanwhile, former governor of Edo State, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday commended the judgment delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal, affirming the election of Gov. Obaseki.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin, Oshiomhole said the judiciary still remained the hope for common man.

“The judgment is sound and a testimony that the people of Edo never voted for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

‘‘The petition was a busy body one to distract the electorate; this was just like ‘Mama Akara’ judgment going to see over non-issue.’’

Oshiomhole further said that the judgment has shown that there were still men and women of good character in the judiciary.

‘‘This will serve as a deterrent to some people who can say whatever they like about the judiciary.

‘‘But it has shown it (judiciary) has men & women of good charter of courage and knowledge,’’ he said.

In a relayed development, the counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Victor Ohiosunua, has appealed to PDP chieftains to support Obaseki to develop the state.

Ohiosunua made the call in in Benin after the Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin dismissed the petition filed by PDP candidate, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, challenging Obaseki’s election.