Edo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called the attention of the general public and lovers of democracy to the “unwarranted delay in the release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order of Judgement delivered by the State Election Petition Tribunal on September 8, 2019 and demanded an immediate release of said documents.
The documents in question are from the judgement in the petition of Hon Omosede Igbinedion Vs INEC, Dennis Idahosa & APC in the House of Representatives election held on February 23, 2019, the PDP said in a press statement signed in Benin City on Tuesday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Osa Nehikhare.
The tribunal read and passed its Judgement 10 days ago and it was the first to be delivered.
“t is a known fact that parties are allowed by law to go on appeal within 21 days of judgement. But our right of appeal is being frustrated by the deliberate delay to avail us with copies of the judgement to enable us file our appeal within time.
We are informed that APC leaders have boasted that by the time we get certified copies of the judgement, our lawyers will not have time to file any appeal.
“They have admitted in certain quarters that they may lose at appeal even though they know that the tribunal tried in its 5 hour long judgment to justify its position.
“Edo PDP calls on the tribunal to immediately do the needful as it is common knowledge that copies of judgement passed several days after the Omosede Igbinedion petition have been made available to the parties involved.
“The tribunal will be doing itself a great disservice if they allow APC to create the impression that in this particular case, they are taking instructions from “outside”.
Signed
SPS PDP EDO STATE
Chris Osa Nehikhare
