The Appeal Court sitting in Benin city, the Edo State
capital has upheld the election of the former Speaker of the Delta State
House of Assembly and member representing Ika South, Hon. Martin Okonta
in the State Assembly elections in Ika South the judgment of the
appellate court was delivered on Wednesday 25th January, 2012.
Reacting to the judgment, the patron, Agbor Solidarity Forum for Rt Hon.
Okonta, Mr. Kinji Aluge Obia described judgement the as a Victory for
the people of Ika South as, Rt Hon. Okonta will now have time to
concentrate on his legislative business at the House and also start
working on already set out plans of delivering dividends of democracy to
his constituency He said since it was obvious that Rt Hon. Okonta
defeated his Major rival Hon. Kingsley Noye Philips convincingly at the
poll, Hon Philip should not have gone to court in the first place
because by doing that ‘’he has allowed us to waste our time and money
which would have been channeled into meaningful developmental projects.
He enjoined the people of Ika South to continue praying and supporting
Rt Hon. Okonta as he is truly interested in their development.
Mr. Nwokenyen Efan, Chairman, Agbor Solidarity forum Okonta for while
describing the court judgment as a good one called on the people
Democratic Party, PDP supporters including members of the opposition to
join heads with the Rt Hon. Okonta to move Ika South forward.
Hon. Kingsley Noye Philips, a Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, candidate
in the last State Assembly election had gone to court to challenge the
victory of Rt Hon Martin Okonta which was said to be marred by election
irregularities. The court however ruled in favour of Rt Hon. Martin
Okonta after declaring that the period the suit was filed has elapsed
sixty days.
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