FOR Governor David Umahi it has been three contests and three victories against his opponents in the battle for the Ebonyi State Government House.

By Peter Okutu

It began with the election proper, then the election tribunal and last Friday, it was the Court of Appeal.

The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu State had on Friday, reaffirmed the electoral victory of Governor Umahi as the winner of the election in the state.

Earlier, the Ebonyi Election Petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, had in a judgment that lasted for eight hours and 10 minutes ruled that Umahi won the last governorship election.

This is the second time Umahi’s victory is being affirmed  after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared him winner of the polls.

The petitioner and governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Sir Edward Nkwegu had asked the court to cancel the governorship election, so that a fresh one could be conducted. But despite the arguments  of his counsels, none of his pleas or submissions  caught the sympathy of the judges.

Gov. Dave Umahi

At the tribunal, the petition of Nkwegu was thrown away for lacking in merit while at the Appeal Court, it was dismissed for being functionally useless.

Delivering the judgment at the Appeal Court on behalf of four other Judges, Justice JOK Oyewole explained that the five reliefs sought by the applicant lacked merit.

The governorship   Election Petition Tribunal  in Abakaliki had in October this year dismissed Nkwegu’s petition challenging the declaration of Engr.  Umahi by INEC as the winner of the election for lacking in merit. It also noted the inability of the petitioner to prove allegations of corrupt practices and criminalities as contained in  his petition.

In the appeal filed by his counsel, Chief U.N Udechukwu (SAN), Nkwegu prayed the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal, which he described as a grave error of law.

Widespread irregularities

He urged the court to annul the election of   Umahi and order a fresh poll  since, according to him, the governorship election was marred by widespread irregularities.

But counsel to Engr. Umahi, Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit. He said that Governor Umahi was validly elected in the election conducted in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

Addressing newsmen at the Appeal Court premises after the judgment, Umahi stated that “Our learned judges said the appeal was functionally useless. We should  continue thanking God as the Bible tells us that whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

“This victory is of God and no man can set it aside. Our detractors have been going about looking for who to bribe. We have confidence in God and the judiciary.

“Anywhere they take us to, victory will still be ours. They are so ashamed of what we are doing in Ebonyi State and they will  continue to live in shame. I am impressed by the judges; they were wonderful. I thank all our lawyers who defended us.”

Reacting to the victory, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Afikpo South local government area, Barr Eni Uduma Chima described the Appeal Court ruling as  victory for democracy.

According to him, now Governor Umahi would fully focus on his mandate and ensure that democracy dividends get to the people without being distracted. We are happy with this victory. He is the people’s governor and we thank God for the verdict of the court”.

With the victory of Governor Umahi, he is now expected to meet the expectations of Ebonyi people on account of  his campaign promises during the last election.