10th November, 2010
Arrangements were in top gear this morning in Asaba, Delta State for the swearing in of the Acting Governor of the state, Sam Obi, at the Government House.
The Court of Appeal in Benin presided over by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, yesterday ordered that Sam Obi, who is the Speaker of the Delta State House Assembly, be sworn in as acting governor of the state following the sack of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The Appeal Court ordered a fresh election within 90 days after nullifying the victory of Uduaghan, the PDP candidate in the flawed 14 April 2007 governorship election.
Uduaghan’s victory was challenged at the election petition tribunal by the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, candidate, Great Ogboru. The battle was fought to the Appeal Court which delivered its verdict yesterday.
At the time of filing this report, the ceremony was about to commence.
Meanwhile, Uduaghan has moved out of his official residence in Asaba.
The former governor and his family moved out of the residence at about 9 p.m. after addressing supporters who went to his residence as news of his removal filtered into the state capital.
Addressing the gathering which included members of the PDP and Government House staff, Uduaghan sued for calm.
He advised the people not to lose sleep over the development, saying God’s wish would prevail.
The PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, who was among those at the Governor’s Lodge, charged party members to return to their wards and mobilise for the re-election.
He expressed confidence that the party would win the re-election, saying Delta remained a PDP state.
There was jubiliation in Warri and Asaba, the state capital after the governor was rmoved. The youth took to the streets while others went to bars to drink beer in celebration of the judgement of the Appeal Court.
Politician and elderstatesman, Chief Edwin Clark who was at loggerheads with the outsted governor, described the judgement as a tonic that made yesterday a joyous day of him.
Clark, a PDP stalwart, further told Deltans that they should expect a new governor after the rerun election as Uduaghan was gone for good.
Uduaghan appeared to have been caught unawares by the judgement as he was performing his official duties till late yesterday without knowing the fate that was about to befall.
He was meeting with the committee on the Asaba International Airport as well as performing other official functions when the news of his removal spread all over Asaba and beyond.
He could not make any official statement concerning his removal except the brief chat he had with staff of the Government House and his supporters.
—Yomi Obaditan/Asaba
