By Simon Ebegbulem & Austin Ogwuda

BENIN-AHEAD of today’s Court of Appeal judgment on the January 2011 re-run governorship election in Delta State between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, the Edo State Police Command has deployed its anti-bomb squad on the court premises.

Meanwhile, despite the apprehension in the camps, PDP and DPP, appear confident, claiming that they were optimistic that the judgment would swing in their favour.

Governor Uduaghan, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, said that there was no cause for concern.

He said: “We are very optimistic. The truth, as I had earlier said, is that the Tribunal’s judgment was a cast iron judgment based on law and fact and I don’t see how such solid judgment can be upturned in the Court of Appeal. We remain in prayers and trust our Good Lord would deliver us.”

DPP on its part, through the state Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, said: “We are very optimistic that the judgment will come in our favour, having laid the facts bare.”

On security, Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. David Omajola, who disclosed the preparedness of the command to ensure tight security during the judgment, said the police would deploy personnel from the mobile force, anti-bomb unit and regular units to provide security.

While admonishing politicians to counsel their supporters against making trouble before and after the judgment, he warned that the police will not hesitate to deal decisively with any politician whose supporters were caught formenting trouble.

He added: “We are not going to take anything for granted and that is why we have deplored our anti-bomb squad to the court premises. We are prepared.

“We have deployed our mobile men, bomb disposal unit and regular policemen. We call on parties to be law-abiding. They should all know that in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser.

“So everybody should take it like that and ensure that there is peace in the land.”