Manager’s Sack: Uduaghan Hails Tribunal Judgment, Heads To Appeal Court, Says He Ought To Be Declared Rightful Winner

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, immediate past governor of Delta state has reacted to the Delta State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal’s nullification of the election that produced senator James Manager of Delta South senatorial District.

Uduaghan, in a statement on Saturday, while saluting the tribunal judges for the ruling, however said that the would be heading to the Appeal court to challenge the judgment.

“In view of this, we shall be challenging the tribunal’s judgement at the Appeal Court to declare us as the outright winner of the February 23rd, 2019 National Assembly Election for Delta South Senatorial District.”, he said.

The statement signed by his media assistant, Monoyo Edon reads; “His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the Immediate Past Governor of Delta State and the All Progressives Congress Candidate for Delta South in the last general elections has expressed appreciation to the Justice C.O Onyeaba-led Delta South Senatorial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba for nullifying the victory of Senator James Manager in the February 23, 2019 National Assembly Election.

“The tribunal panel consisting of Justice C.O Onyeaba, (Abia), Justice D. A. Oyegbemi (Nasarawa) and Justice S.N.J Usman (Kogi) had in a judgement earlier today established that there was substantial non-compliance with INEC electoral guidelines in some parts of Delta South Senatorial District and connivance among security agencies, staff of INEC and agents of the People’s Democratic Party to massively cause over voting in favour of the PDP candidate to which the tribunal subsequently directed INEC to withdrawal the Certificate of Return from Senator James Manager and conduct a rerun within 90 days.

“However, Dr. Uduaghan still maintains that he won the election and has turned his attention to the Appeal Court to claim his mandate.

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“While we are happy with the tribunal’s judgement which affirmed my party’s position that the election was rigged and characterized with electoral over voting, we are not entirely satisfied with the judgement as the tribunal ought to have deducted the excess illegal votes and declared me and my party rightful winner of the election.

“In view of this, we shall be challenging the tribunal’s judgement at the Appeal Court to declare us as the outright winner of the February 23rd, 2019 National Assembly Election for Delta South Senatorial District.”

“Dr. Uduaghan thanks the good people of Delta South and supporters who had been waiting for the outcome of this judgement. He dedicates the victory to the people of Delta South assuring of victory at the Court of Appeal”.