It was wild jubilation in Benin City, the Edo State capital yesterday when the news of the Supreme Court ruling in favour of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Abuja filtered into town as residents trooped out to the city centre to celebrate.
Their action caused heavy vehicular traffic on some major streets in the state capital. The apex court had upheld the decision of the still in Edo Election Petitions Tribunal over Governor Oshiomhole’s qualification.
The tribunal had, in October 2012, held that the educational qualification of Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was not a ground in the original petition of Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Residents who were seen wearing white chalk, a symbolic means of victory in the state, screamed “Iyare-Iyare,”(God has answered our prayers). Congratulations to our Comrade Governor.”
Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and Comrade Athanasius Ugbome, Edo North ACN stalwart in their reactions, thanked the people of the state for their support for the governor.
An elated Odubu said, “If you recall, at the beginning of the tribunal’s sitting, I said that the petition was dead on arrival based on my training and experience in electoral matters as a trained lawyer.
“As far as we are concerned, it was a serious abuse of court process. First, the oracle spoke but they did not believe; now God has spoken through the Supreme Court, and I am sure they now believe.”
While hailing the judgement, Ugbome said it again demonstrated that the judiciary remained a true defender of the nation’s democracy and the hope of the ordinary man.
He, however, urged Gen. Airhiavbere to accept defeat and support the transformation agenda of Governor Oshiomhole rather than “embarking on a wide goose chase.”
Many of them who later converged on the Government House said the Supreme Court verdict had put a stop to those whom they said were “enemies of democracy.”
Also responding, Hon. Samson Osagie, minority whip of the House of Representatives and member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode federal constituency, said the judgement of the Supreme Court reaffirmed the people’s mandate to Comrade Oshiomhole.