A former federal legislator, Israel Sunny-Goli, has accepted the ruling of the election petitions tribunal, which upheld the election of Marie Ebikake to represent the Brass-Nembe constituency at the House of Representatives.

“I congratulate Hon Marie Ebikake on her victory in the February 2023 House of Representatives election, as well as the favourable judgment she got against me from the election petitions tribunal,” stated the legislator. “I look forward to seeing her bring the dividends of democracy to our people as she settles down to the business of representing them in the National Assembly.”

Mr Sunny-Goli, in a statement issued on Thursday, said he would not appeal the tribunal’s ruling and congratulated Ms Ebikake.

“After assessing the recent judgement of the election petitions tribunal, delivered on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, which upheld the victory of my opponent in the February 25, 2023 House of Representatives election for the Brass-Nembe federal constituency, Hon Marie Ebikake, and the impediment a prolonged legal tussle poses to the development of our constituency, I have arrived at the conclusion that it is best to accept the decision of the Tribunal and not go on to appeal its decision.”

Mr Sunny-Goli said his decision “is predicated on my personal experience after the 2019 election, wherein I was dragged before the election petitions tribunal and the court of appeal respectively by my opponent, who happens to be the same Hon Ebikake,” pointing out that the legal tussle was “unsettling and distractive.”

He assured supporters and followers that “this is by no means an end to our political aspirations, as the future holds for us, prospects brighter than whatever we may have achieved in the course of our political journey.”

“I implore you to remain calm and hopeful, as this is only a temporary setback in our political voyage, and we shall bounce back from it bigger, stronger and better,” Mr Sunny-Goli explained. “A new chapter with greater prospects awaits us, and soon, we shall have a reason to be thankful for the benevolence of God towards us.”

(NAN)