The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 general elections for the Isoko Federal Constituency, Thomas Joel-Onowakpor, has described the judgement delivered by the Delta state National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, the capital as miscarriage of justice which will not stand the test of time “because we will reclaim our mandate in due time.”
Joel-Onowakpor, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 general elections for the Isoko Federal Constituency, had filed a petition challenging the declaration of the former minority leader and member representing the constituency in the national Assembly, Leo Ogor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on the ground that the election was marred with massive fraud and sort for cancellation of the election in the area.
Delivering their judgement Friday in Asaba, the three-man tribunal panel headed by Justice E. A. Ngene, ruled that the petitioner, Joel-Onowakpor
failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts and therefore dismissed the petition for lack of merit.
Meanwhile reacting to the judgement in a statement entitled “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over”–Yogi Berra “We are still on Course in Reclaiming our Mandate.”, signed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 general elections for the Isoko Federal Constituency, Thomas Joel-Onowakpor, and made available to Journalists, noted that despite all the facts of the frauds carried out by the electoral body, the panel decided to affirm the election marred by massive fraud.
“I received with shock the judgement the House of Representatives Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba. Despite all the evidences and the glaring facts of the irregularities perpetrated by the INEC officials presented by our Legal team, they decided to affirm an election that was marked by massive irregularities.
“Today’s judgment is a minor setback, which shall not prevent us from reclaiming our stolen mandate. It is not over, until it is over. Our Legal team is studying the judgement and in the next few days we shall take an appropriate decision on the next line of action.
“I wish to thank my teeming supporters for their love and show of enthusiasm in reclaiming our mandate. Despite the short notice, they mobilised and stormed the premises of the Tribunal.
“I also thank the entire APC family in Isoko Federal Constituency for their prayers, steadfastness and commitment to reclaiming our mandate. You are truly uncommon men and women of Isoko extraction.
“I wish to assure you that today’s judgment will not stand the test of time because we will reclaim our mandate in due time. The speeding up the development of Isoko Nation is still very much on course. Isoko Nation will not remain stagnant for another four years. It will end in praise.”, the statement concluded.
In a related development, the tribunal affirmed the election of Efe Afe of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), representing the Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency at the national Assembly, and dismissed the petition filed by the former speaker, Delta state house of Assembly, Monday Igbuya.
