By Austin Ogwuda
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos today (Wednesday) upturned earlier judgment of the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Asaba, Delta State that ordered a rerun in some units in Delta South senatorial District and upheld the victory of Senator Ede Dafinone as the winner of that senatorial District during the last election.
Before today’s judgment there was jubilation within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP camp in Delta State beating their chests that with the rerun, they would ensure that Chief Ighoyota Amori who had a brief stint at the Senate before now returned back.
The Senator presently representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone completely dashed that dream today.
The Lower Tribunal had in a petition marked EPT/DT/Sen/2023 filed by the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ighoyota Amori, ordered a rerun in about 20 units.
This was however challenged by Senator Dafinone of All Progressives Party, APC at the Court of Appeal.
In a unanimous judgment delivered today, the appellate court upheld Dafinone’s appeal and dismissed the Cross Appeal filed by his opponent, Chief Ighoyota Amori of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Jubilant Dafinone in a statement said, “Our Appeal Court Victory is to God and Humanity!
“Today we won at the Court of Appeal, this victory would not have been possible without God, so, we give God all the Glory, He alone deserves our praises and may His Name be praised forever.
“I also want to thank our party leaders for your invaluable support that contributed to our victory, and APC faithful, my supporters across party lines and the great people of Delta Central, this victory is for all of us.
“Our judiciary has once again demonstrated that it can do substantive justice when the need arises and indeed the hope of the common man”, he stated.
