Delta state born environmental and peace advocate, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has said that with the recent Supreme Court victory of the Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the coast is now clear for the governor to deliver to the expectations of Deltans on good governance.
Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, was reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict delivered on Friday, January 19, that upheld the 2023 gubernatorial election result in the state as conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on March 18, 2023.
Recall that INEC had declared that Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, polled 360, 234 votes to win the governorship election ahead of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who secured 240, 229 votes, but the latter, dissatisfied with the result approached the court to nullify the election.
According to the Supreme Court in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, held that the appeal by the APC and its candidate, Omo-Agege, lacked merit, and consequently, it dismissed the petition without cost.
Speaking on the outcome Chief Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, said the court’s verdict has finally laid to rest the litigation and offers the governor opportunity to give full focus to his MORE Agenda initiative towards the development of the state.
The peace ambassador also called on stakeholders in the state to join hands together and give their maximum support to the governor who he said started “on a bright note”.
“Yes, the time for playing politics is over. It is now time for all Deltans to focus on the infrastructural and human capital development that are needed to move the state forward.
“As for the Governor, I believe this victory has put to an end every distraction that was a barrier to his promise of delivering on good governance. There is no more room for excuses as Deltans are now watching.
“I therefore call on all stakeholders in the state to rally round the governor and give him all the maximum support he can get to make our state to be a pride to be reckoned with in the Niger Delta as well as in Nigeria at large,” he appealed.
Meanwhile, Governor Oborevwori, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) page said: “To the glory of God, the Supreme Court today affirmed me as the duly elected Governor of Delta State. I commend the judiciary, my legal team, supporters and all Deltans. Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of ordinary Nigerians. The legal battles are over, it is now time to continue to serve fully the people of Delta state in line with my God given vision, the MORE agenda. And l hereby invite all to join hands with me to move our state forward. To God alone be the glory!”