26th June, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Friday, lost Estako West II constituency to the Peoples Democratic (PDP) following the declaration of Gallant Sylvanus Peter as the duly elected member of the State House of Assembly by the State Election Petition Tribunal.
The PDP candidate had challenged the declaration of Gowon Yakubu, candidate of the APC, as winner of the 11 April, 2015 by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC), at the tribunal.
Delivering the judgment, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice E. Abuua, held that the notice of intention to hold party primaries sent to INEC by the APC, was less than the mandatory 21 days, adding that, the notice of intention to hold primary was given on November 13 2014 while the primaries were held on 1 December, 2014, meaning that Gowon Yakubu was not duly nominated by the APC.
The tribunal therefore said all the votes cast for the APC candidate was wasted as a result of which the first runner up who had 4001 votes was the rightful person to be declared winner of the election.
Reacting to the judgement, the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said the judgment was a proof that PDP is in charge of the state, adding that the judgment has kept the hope of Edo people alive.
Chief Orbih said the wind of change showed that Governor Oshiomhole is now represented by a PDP lawmaker.
But in his own reaction, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, said the party’s candidates were duly nominated, just as he hinted that the party’s legal team would handle the situation.