Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, might suffer the same fate as former Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State who got ejected by the Supreme Court in a controversial ruling that went in favor of Hope Uzodinma.
It is barely a month since Governor Godwin Obaseki defeated pastor Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the September 19th governorship election held in the State. While the election is adjudged as the most credible under Mahmoud's INEC, the APC still believe they can use a different approach to unseat the governor.
Ize-Iyamu in a statement yesterday in Benin, the state capital, announced in a statement he personally signed, that he will not challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the poll at the election petitions Tribunal, but would rather continue with the two pre-election cases in court against the PDP, Obaseki and his running mate, Philip Shaibu, challenging their eligibility to contest the election.
He said: “Elections are far more than actual voting, just as democracy includes more than just elections. It is in this light that we draw attention to the fact that the PDP and its standard-bearers (Obaseki and Shaibu) have continued to pursue many pre-election suits in various courts against us, all totalling 13. One of such cases came up in the High Court of Benin on October 2, 2020, days after the election.
“On our part, we had filed two pre-election cases against the PDP and its standard bearers, challenging their eligibility to contest the election. These are all lawful and integral parts of the electoral process in any democracy, which we must all respect and acknowledge, as genuine democrats.
“The outcome of these pending cases has direct effect on the election. Consequently, we have decided to continue with our pre-election cases in full exercise of our legal rights, just as our opponents have considered it their prerogative to also continue with their pre-election cases against us.
“Our cause to uplift our state, using the democratic system, is a noble mission, from which we shall never waiver. As law-abiding citizens, we must all continue to believe in the electoral process as an important part of the democratic system, as it remains the best method of choosing who leads the people, devoid of violence and avoidable acrimony.”
The Edo State PDP however, responded in a statement yesterday, saying Ize-Iyamu’s attempt to justify the legal actions against the party, Obaseki and Shaibu is destined to fail.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, PDP said: “Hope is the currency of politicians. We are aware that the only currency left to share within the APC and Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) is the currency of hope. The futile pre-election matter is to act as oxygen for the few remaining Edo people still in APC/EPM bondage. They are to be fed hope as a strategy so that the shackles fitted to their ankles and wrists can be maintained.
“The defeated APC’s governorship candidate in Edo stated that the election, which has been adjudged as one of the best in the history of the country, was characterised by violence, manipulation and disenfranchisement, among others, but he would not challenge it at the election petitions tribunal.
“We reject and condemn his jaundiced position on the election and wish to advise him to show respect to the wishes of Edo people. He should respect their views and decisions as Edo State has been very kind to him.
“Pastor Ize-Iyamu should know that he cannot retrieve what he lost at the poll at the court. The PDP, Governor Obaseki, Shaibu and other Edo people are waiting for him.”