"My Appeal Court victory, a perfect Christmas Gift for Deltans" – Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has described the ruling of the Court of Appeal which upheld his election as a perfect Christmas gift for the people of the state.

Okowa who spoke with journalists shortly after an emergency thanksgiving service following the judgement that was delivered in Abuja, urged his opponents to join hands with him in moving the state forward.

“This is a perfect Christmas gift for Deltans. I believe that Deltans must be very excited because the truth is that they trooped out on April 11 to cast their votes and the courts have continued to upheld their wishes. By God’s grace, we will not Delta State down,” he said.

Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Great Ogboru and his All Progressive Congress (APC) counterpart, O’tega Emerhor had in separate appeals approached the court, seeking to nullify the victory of Okowa of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

Both candidates had picked holes in the judgement of the lower tribunal sitting in Asaba which dismissed their respective petitions for lack of merit.

An obviously excited Okowa during the thanksgiving service thanked the people of the state for their kindness and support through prayers, saying that it has been a spiritual battle and physical struggle in human flesh.

He admitted that there a lot of pressure as a result of overwhelming rumors about the likely outcome of the Court of Appeal, adding that yesterday’s judgement was a reinforcement of the wishes of the people of the state.

“We appeal to our opponents to come on board and reconcile for us to move the state forward. There is room for reconciliation, there room for peace, there is no bad blood between us.

“I call on my brothers, Ogboru and Emerhor to embrace peace because our time will come and go but our children will continue to be there.

“They know evidently that they were not prepared for election, they know evidently that we won the election but why continue on this track,” Okowa said.

- TheSUN