The Tribunal dismissed the suit challenging Governor Obaseki’s victory in the September poll in a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday in Benin City, the state capital.

Justice Chukwudi Nwakwo delivered the ruling in the presence of the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abdulrazak Abdulkareem, and the third judge, Justice Josephine Ayua.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Governor Obaseki sought re-election, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which declared the governor as the winner, were joined as respondents to the petition.

When the case was called, the counsel to the petitioners, Steven Osaigbovo, was not present in court.

In its ruling, the Tribunal held that in the petition against the first and second respondents, the petitioners failed to file the pre-hearing notice.

As a result, it ruled that the petitioners were deemed to have abandoned the petition and, thereafter, dismissed the suit.

Similarly, in the petition against the third respondent, the Tribunal held that the pre-hearing notice was not filed within time by the petitioners.

It, therefore, went ahead to dismiss the petition.

Recall that INEC had issued a returned certificate to Governor Obaseki and Deputy Governor Shaibu elected after they were declared winner the electoral umpire on September 19.

The governor polled 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than his closest rival Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

He said, “Words fail me in saluting our teeming supporters who displayed immense courage in the face of threats, intimidation, and brutalisation. The collective will of Edo people made it possible for us this triumph over godfatherism. Congratulations to Edo people.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Obaseki winner of the governorship election. INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, announced the result of the election on Sunday.

Obaseki of PDP polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closest rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of the All Progressives Congress, who got 223,619 votes.

The incumbent governor was announced as the party’s flag bearer with the highest votes of 1,952 out of total accredited votes of 2024. 72 votes were invalid.

However, it has already become clear that Obaseki was going to win after other aspirants running against him stepping down.

The governor, who reacted shortly after his announcement said, “Today makes a defining moment for our dear state. With today’s election result, it is clear that there is no mountain. I thank my family for the encouragement.

“I salute all our party members for standing tall when it became necessary to do so.

“I almost quit running for a second tenure all because of overbearing god-father, but the PDP cover provided us with the umbrella when it was heavily raining. Kenneth Imasuagbon and others made this possible.”

Meanwhile, Obaseki became the governor of Edo state through the party flag of the All Progressive Party, APC, but defected to PDP on Friday, June 19, 2020, after quitting the APC following his denial of ticket to run for the primary election of APC.

The Rivers State Governor who was accused of being responsible for an order restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki from participating in the PDP primary election ahead of the governorship poll in Edo state lashed out at members of the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who he described as “tax collectors”.

In a statement released by Rivers state commissioner for information and communication Paulinus Nsirim on Tuesday, June 23, Wike queried the NWC for not consulting with governors in the case of Bayelsa state and further alleged that they are blackmailing him.

Wike said “I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors.  They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible. I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state. As a result of this senseless accusation, I have pulled out of Edo State settlement. My integrity matters. I have also directed my lawyer to write ThisDay Newspaper on the publication they made against me in their Tuesday, 23rd June 2020 edition. I know the members of the National Working Committee of PDP who connived with ThisDay. They are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with more facts. Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back. I am brought up not to accept injustice, and that is why I keep speaking out on national issues. Nobody in PDP can intimidate Rivers State. Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally. I will always continue to satisfy my conscience. From now on, I want to concentrate on the development of Rivers State.”

Obaseki who spoke through his Media Adviser, Crusoe Osagie, in a telephone interview, on Tuesday, noted that opponents of the PDP were already jittery about the overwhelming support the party was receiving from the people, The Punch reports.

“The court order was obtained last night. Our opponents outside the party are trying to use fifth columnists within us to replicate the chaos in their party.

“They are worried about the popularity and acceptance of the PDP and our amiable Governor so much so that they have become desperate in their quest to stop a contest they know they will lose,” he said.

The governor formally resigned his membership from APC yesterday June 16, and this ignited rumours that he has defected to the PDP where he will be running for re-election. However in a tweet posted today, June 17 the governor said he is yet to move to a new platform.

He tweeted “’I have not moved to a new platform yet to seek re-election. My focus now is to control the spread of the coronavirus (#COVID19) pandemic, which is ravaging our country and threatening our healthcare system. Stay safe”