BY MYKE UZENDU, ABUJA
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has described the Appeal Court’s judgment in Delta State governorship election as a victory for democracy.
Abure added that the ruling was a clear testimony that the judiciary can be effective, impartial and truly the conscience of the masses.
The LP Chairman also called on other judicial institutions to take a cue from the Appeal Court and dispense judgment without fear or favour regardless of the persons involved.
Delta Election Petition Tribunal had earlier dismissed LP’s case against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over alleged abandonment by the petitioners.
Ruling on the matter on Thursday, the Appeal Court disagreed with the tribunal, and went ahead to refer the petition of the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the state, Ken Pela back to the tribunal for onward hearing.
Abure, in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the Court’s ruling has now given the party the opportunity to prove its case at the tribunal.
“We are pleased with the position of the Appeal Court today. We were shocked at the decision of the tribunal to stifle prematurely our matter. We were not even allowed to present our matter.
“Justice was not served and that made us to approach the appellate court requesting it to review the case which the tribunal had rejected.
“With the Appeal Court overturning the tribunal’s judgement today, we are happy that we can now reopen our case again against the PDP candidate who was erroneously declared winner of the last election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
“Labour Party won the governorship election in Delta State and like in most other states, some undemocratic elements had conspired to snatch the state from us and they went ahead to use the tribunal to stop us from proving that we won,” the statement reads.
Abure commended the judiciary and urged them to always stand on the ground of justice and fairness in dispensing every other cases brought before it.
He noted that the wishes of the people must always be respected whether at the presidential or states election petition tribunal.
“Nigeria’s democracy will gain more when right judgments are given,” the party stressed.