Tribunal Upholds Gov Okowa’s Victory

The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting, Asaba, on Friday upheld the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party, declaring him as the authentic winner of the March, 9, 2019 governorship election.

The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Great Ogboru, had in a petition challenged the emergence of Okowa as Governor at the march 2019 poll. He alleged that the election was marred by several irregularities, over-voting and substantial non-compliance with the electoral act and guidelines.

He therefore prayed the tribunal to nullify the election and order the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh exercise or declare him winner on the ground that he scored majority of lawful votes cast during that exercise.

Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Sulaiman Belgore, however, dismissed the petition for lacking merit.