Omo-Agege says his victory at election tribunal was no surprise

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Evelyn Oboro, was a needless distraction and a waste of the tribunal’s time.

PDP’s Evelyn Oboro, who contested in the last general elections as the Delta Central senator, had approached the tribunal and asked it to nullify Omo-Agege’s victory based on alleged disqualification and non-compliance to the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

However, the tribunal sitting in Asaba in its verdict on Saturday, dismissed the petition, stating that the petitioner failed to adduce evidence to prove allegations against the senator.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Senator Omo-Agege said he was not surprised by the tribunal’s verdict.

He said, “While many have emphatically maintained that the suit was unnecessary in view of the thousands of votes in his favour and an unwavering support for his reelection as Senator representing the Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Omo-Agege has appealed for continued unity of purpose towards ensuring positive impact on the lives of the people who voted for him to ensure qualitative representation at the Senate.

“With the determined support of his constituents, transparent election victory was achieved and it is no surprise that Saturday’s unanimous judgment by the election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba was that the resounding electoral victory be upheld.

READ ALSO: ELECTIONS: Omo-Agege records another victory

“We must restate the fact that the petition to the Tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate was a needless distraction and a waste of the Tribunal’s time going by the fact that the petitioner was defeated in her polling unit, ward and even local government area by Senator Omo-Agege.

“Indeed, the tribunal dismissed the petition against Senator Omo-Agege on the grounds that the petition lacked merit and the petitioner could not prove her case beyond reasonable doubt.

“With the monumental support of his people at the grassroots and the thousands of votes’ gap legitimately recorded during the Senatorial elections, the outcome couldn’t have been different.

“While Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not surprised about the tribunal’s verdict, he has directed his staff and supporters to look beyond the spontaneous jubilation and embrace his commitment to the populist ideals of spreading the dividends of democracy to all.

“He also urged all his constituents to forgive all unjustified accusations of the past and embrace his call for unity of purpose as much needs to be done towards the realization of his vision for genuine change and development.

“The Deputy President of the Senate has continued to extend a hand of fellowship to all those who participated in the futile challenge and he expressed gratitude to all Nigerians who have been expressing their support in various ways.”

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