… say it’s Gbagi’s constitutional right to approach the court
Barely one week after the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), His Excellency, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, approached the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Asaba, the State capital, to challenge the declaration of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, winner of the March 18th 2023 election, an elder statesman in the State, Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, has rose in defence of Gbagi’s decision.
Chief Ogbetuo, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State said the court which is the hope of the common man, has competent jurisdiction to decide who is the real winner of the just concluded governorship election in the state.
Besides, the APC chieftain, many Deltans have also rose in defence of the SDP gubernatorial candidate, claiming that contrary to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election was marred with irregularities and without compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
Addressing newsmen in Warri, Chief Ogbetuo, said the just concluded governorship election was bedeviled with ringing and vote buying, alleging that it was a do-or-die affair for the PDP.
He asserted that it was one of the constitutional rights of the Social Democratic Party flag bearer in the State, to approach the court, saying it was the right step taken in the right direction.
While noting that the court has to prove the authenticity of the candidates in the election, he said: “I am speaking as a patriotic Deltan and a free and fair election is the only process that should produce a governor-elect. Gbagi is a renowned lawyer, and his knowledge of the law is excellent.
“He (Gbagi) has the knowledge of seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria put together.
“In the administration of this recent election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there was mass rigging and other malpractices that are worth challenging in court, though in time past I predicted that Gbagi will be a governor of Delta State”.
He reiterated that the former minister of state for education, remains the only candidate that could transform the state, which according to him, is his dream for the oil-rich Delta State.
“If Gbagi wins through the court, I believe he will develop Delta State and even a beggar will ride a horse”, he reiterated.
The nonagenarian, a contemporary of Chief Edwin Clark, a foremost Ijaw leader, left the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), over underdevelopment to pitch tent with APC in 2019.
Before the election, the APC stalwart, had endorsed Gbagi, a former minister of state for education and SDP gubernatorial candidate after he woke up from a dream where he saw the largest private investor in the State, been sworn-in as governor, three years ago.
Chief Ogbetuo, a political juggernaut who is addressed as “Achoja r Urhobo”, meaning, “let us redeemed Urhobo from suffering”, had equally wished the renowned Criminologist landslide victory in the forthcoming general election and has stayed put since then.
Pa. Ogbetuo, who hails from Samagidi-Kokori Community in Ethiope east local government area, of the State, stated that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, did not help the Urhobos.
He cited the Delta State University Abraka as a glorified secondary school, remains undeveloped but went further to create three new universities with none in Urhobo land.
He alleged that Okowa, mismanaged the state, as he borrowed too much money, thereby plunging the state into bankruptcy.
“Okowa’s administration has already disqualified Sheriff but whoever emerges through the court should avoid the mistakes of Okowa, he should develop the state and should not use ramshackle contractors.
“There are two major roads in this state, Ughelli to Asaba and Warri to Abraka, We don’t know how the court will take a decision on Gbagi who is most qualified, I wish him all the best”.
