Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun on his victory at the Appeal Court on Friday.

Mr Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, said the governorship election petitions tribunal, which nullified Mr Adeleke’s election earlier, did not do justice to the case.

Mr Okowa commended the three-man panel of the Appellate Court for setting aside the judgment of the election tribunal.

He said that the judgment of the Appeal court was a victory for the nation’s democracy and a reaffirmation of the responsibility of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act as an unbiased umpire.

“I welcome the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on the Osun Governorship Election Petition with immense joy and appreciation to the judiciary for doing justice on the matter.

“This ruling has once again reaffirmed the powers and responsibility of INEC to act as an unbiased umpire, especially in dealing with the issues of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).

“This is in checking over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

“I must commend the courage and sagacity exhibited by the three-man panel of the Appeal Court, which ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegation of over-voting and substantial non-compliance,” he said.

Mr Okowa said the victory was coming at a time when the Osun people have embraced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as their party, which they voted for in the national and State Assembly elections in the just-concluded general elections.

“This victory is for all Osun people as, indeed, light has come to outshine the forces of darkness.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I congratulate my brother, Gov. Ademola Adeleke, on this reassuring victory.”

(NAN)