Candidate of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 28, 2016 governorship election in Edo Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has congratulated the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, over his victory at the Supreme Court.
Ize-Iyamu and the PDP had challenges the declaration of Obaseki as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the State Election Petition Tribunal.
The three-man Tribunal, headed by Hon. Justice Ahmed Badamasi, in its ruling on April 17, 2017, upheld Obaseki’s election.
Not satisfied with the decision of the Tribunal, the PDP and its candidate again approached the Court of Appeal, sitting in Benin, asking it to declare him as winner of the election or ask INEC to conduct another election.
The Appellate Court in a unanimous judgement, threw out the appeal, noting that the Tribunal “did a thorough job.”
Again, the Appellant approached the Supreme Court to upturn the decision of the Appellate Court.
However, Ize-Iyamu, in a press statement issued in Benin on Monday, congratulated the winner, noting that “the struggle for the office of the Governor was over.”
The statement read:
“Today, the Supreme Court has by its judgment brought to an end our struggle for the office of the governor of Edo State which began on 28 September, 2016.
“I accept in good faith this decision of the highest court of our country, which affirms Mr Godwin Obaseki as the Governor of Edo State. I therefore congratulate Mr Godwin Obaseki and assure him of my goodwill.
“I also want to use this opportunity to thank all our supporters and party men and women for their immense support for our struggle right from the time of the election to this day that it ended at the Supreme Court. Let me assure them of my acknowledgement of their various sacrifices and promise that I will always be there for them.
“I thank all Edo people who have been part of our struggle all the way. In our various ways we should keep the fire burning in the quest for an Edo State of our dreams.
“Finally, I thank God for His grace that gave me the opportunity to seek the office. To Him be all honour and Glory. God bless Edo State.”