From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Court of Appeal, Lagos, will on Friday deliver it’s judgement on an appeal brought by the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, Ovie Omo-Agege.
Omo-Agege who is the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, filed the appeal to challenge the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal which upheld the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In his appeal, Omo-Agege is seeking to be declared winner of the March 18 governorship election on the ground that he garnered majority of the lawful votes cast.
He argued that Oborevwori was returned as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with excess votes that resulted from over voting.
But the governor, Oborevwori, contended that the appeal by his main challenger is lacking merit, urging the Court of Appeal to dismiss same.
Meanwhile, both camps of the PDP and APC have been upbeat, declaring, in separate fora that the judgement would be in their party’s favour.
Supporters of the political bigwigs had also raised accusations and counter accusations of alleged attempt to bribe the Court of Appeal panel.
However, a pressure group within the state PDP, Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) is apprehensive.
Secretary of the group, Mr. Ese Sanco told journalists in Asaba that the trend of judgement by the Court of Appeal across states of the federation tend to favour the ruling APC.
Sanco cited the cases of Zamfara, Kano and Plateau states where the Court of Appeal verdict sacked sitting governors of the opposition parties.
He added that the case of Nasarawa State where the judgement of the election tribunal sacked the sitting APC governor was reversed by the appellate court.
“I am indeed saddened by the worthless vituperation of Delta APC and the belief that Mr President has promised to hand over Delta State to them through the courts. If this is true then Nigeria is finished.
“I am not here to doubt whatever they decides to say or believe because there are clearly ominous signs that threaten not just our faith in the electoral and judicial system but evincing that our democracy is compromised.
“It is also crystal clear that the ruling party will not desist from this inglorious ideology of ‘snatch, grab and run away with power.’ as directed by Mr President during the electioneering period,” Sanco said.