From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (NEC) yesterday in Benin City, issued Certificate of Return to the Edo State Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun described the election as historic in the lives of the INEC and Edo people, saying an inconclusive election would have pinched the constitution.
“It is a historic day not only in the lives of our new leaders but also in the lives of Edo State. It is the dawn of a new era. An inconclusive election would have pushed us to an electoral crisis. With barely two weeks to the 30 days before handover, Edo people will appreciate why we had the election on September 28. That is why the commission left no stone unturned in conducting the September 28 election which was conclusive”, he said.
Olumekun thanked INEC officials, security agencies and other stakeholders who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful outcome, noting that “of course you are aware that we did not lose any lives”.
He said the job of “conducting an election is the joint duty of all stakeholders who play their part in ensuring a peaceful and credible election takes place. He urged Obaseki to “kindly remember that their interest and welfare is paramount.”
Preseenting the certificate of return to Obaseki, the South-South National Commissioner, Dr Mustapha Muhammed Leki said, “It is with great sense of duty that I have stand to perform this statutory duty of the INEC”.
Dr Mustapha who said the Card Reader has come to stay to eliminate all forms of electoral fraud in the electoral process stressed that, “INEC will continue to ensure a free, fair and credible election across the country”.
Responding, the Governor-elect, Mr Godwin Obaseki who was in company of his Deputy Governor-elect, Hon Philip Shaibu, thanked God and the people of Edo state for their support and noted that he was in the race to serve.
Appeal Court refuses to stop installation of new Oba of Benin
From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, yesterday, declined to stop the installation of Eheneden Erediauwa, the Edaiken N’Uselu as the new Oba of Benin Kingdom.
One Rich Arisco-Osemwingie who proclaimed himself the Ogiamien of Utantan nation, had filed a motion to stop the installation, but the court declined to hear the matter, opting instead to hear the main appeal.
The coronation is slated for October 20.
At the hearing of the matter, counsel to Arisco-Osemwengie and others, G.E. Oaikhena, informed the court of his application seeking an injunction to stop the installation of the new Oba on the ground that the Ogiamien family was not included in the programme of event for the installation of the Oba.
The motion elicited fireworks from the counsel to the Governor of Edo State and others including Austin Alegeh, Charles Edosomwan and Omoruyi Omonuwa, with Alegeh drawing attention to the court’s earlier order that the applicant should abide by the judgment of the court.
The presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Baba refused to grant any injunction and urged the counsel to argue the main appeal brought before the court.
Justice Baba reserved judgment on the substantive appeal and advised the parties to maintain the status quo until judgment was given on the appeal.
“The court advised parties to maintain status quo. With this, there is no impediment to the coronation of the Oba of Benin. The coronation will go on as planned,” Alegeh told newsmen.
Omonuwa added: “What has happened is that the interlocutory appeal was taken. The court did not deal with any application for injunction at all. The court took the substantive appeal. And in that Appeal, what we are saying essentially is that the case filed at the lower court has no merit because the people that have gone to court have no business going to court because they are relying on a law that does not exist.”
The state government had earlier in the year, filed a criminal charge against Arisco-Osemwengie and others at the Magistrate Court after the latter ascribed to himself, the Ogiamien of Utantan Benin nation. The government viewed the action as an attempt to usurp the powers of the Oba of Benin.
But Arisco-Osemwengie filed a suit against the state government, the Benin Traditional Council and others, at the High Court.
The presiding judge of the High Court 7, Benin City, Justice Ahamoje, ruled against the state government and others.
Following the ruling, government filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Benin City, saying that the trial judge erred in his ruling.