By Eseoghene Emuke
Prominent Deltans including the former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, the member representing Ughelli South at the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Reuben Izeze and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Godwill Obielum have congratulated Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgement on Friday.
The tribunal had on Friday dismissed the petition filed by Chief Great Ogboru of All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and candidate of the PDP in the March 9, 2019 election.
Macaulay, who doubled as the Director General, Warri Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA), described the tribunal judgement in favour of Governor Okowa as a reaffirmation of truth.
According to him, the petitions by opposition were mere distractions to divert government attention from its business of ensuring holistic development and delivering the dividends of democracy.
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In a statement by his Media Assistant, Mr. Iteveh Ekpokpobe, Macaulay congratulated the governor, saying the judgement is good for democracy and the people of the state.
He said, “it is a victory for all Deltans. It is a victory for continuity. It is a victory for development. The petitions were equal to electoral gold digging, and the tribunal verdict has dismissed it for what it is ‘lacks merit and opportunistic’. The APC should accept defeat. Our victory was a convincing one. I congratulate Deltans for the victory.”
Similarly, the member representing Ughelli South at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Reuben Izeze, said Governor Okowa convincingly won the last governorship election and applauded the judgement.
The lawmaker said it was the first time a governor would be winning 23 out of the 25 LGAs in a governorship election in the state,
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While congratulating Governor Okowa and the people of the state on the tribunal ruling, Izeze said, “We started the praise early this morning because we were there and are very conversant with the facts.
“23/25 had never,ever happened in delta state. Governor okowa won the elections freely, fairly and squarely!!! To god alone be all the glory!!!”
On his part, the Chairman of the PDP Campaign Organization in Delta North Senatorial District in the last gubernatorial election, Chief Godwill Obielum has described the reaffirmation of the electoral victory of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a victory for all Deltans.
Reacting to the victory in Asaba, Chief Obielum said Deltans believe that the elections have come and gone and are already enjoying Governor Okowa’s second term.
“We campaigned vigorously, the people came out to vote massively for Governor Okowa and it was gladdening to note that the wish of the people was upheld by the Tribunal.
“The verdict was a victory for a stronger Delta because, our people have started looking at how the state will be in 2023, they have started enjoying dividends of the second term of Governor Okowa’s administration.
“That Governor Okowa performed in his first tenure was obvious with the way the people voted; we know that the state is a PDP stronghold, but, the love of the people for our Governor based on his performance in his first tenure was evident; they spoke with one voice through their voters’ cards.
“With the zoning formula, Delta North which Governor Okowa is from will do eight years just as Delta Central did eight years through Chief James Ibori and Delta South did eight years through Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, so, it was just natural that the people came out to cast their votes for whom and what they believed in,” Chief Obielum said.
