The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Saturday, declared Honourable Collins Ovie Egbetamah of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected member representing Udu in the Delta State House of Assembly, sparking wild jubilations across Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Appeal Court ruling rubbishes the Delta State Election Tribunal ruling, which earlier declared Chief Jite Brown of the PDP winner after cancelling some units in Udu Ward 9 where his APC opponent who was declared winner during the election, come from, paving the way for declaration of Jite Brown as winner.
But the Court of Appeal faulted the decision of the Tribunal and upheld the earlier declaration of Hon Collins Egbetamah as the duly elected representative of Udu people in the House of Assembly, making a mess of the verdict of the tribunal.
The final declaration of Hon Collins Egbetamah sparked wild jubilation with friends, well wishers and loved ones trooping into the House of his father, Chief B.J Egbetamah, the Awhotu of Udu Kingdom to celebrate the victory of his son.
In his reaction, Comrade Ese Ogboru, foremost APC youth leader in Delta State described the victory of Collins Egbetamah as ‘’victory of light over darkness, God Almighty over the forces of evil, Justice over injustice, and Udu general interest over personal interest of an individual who have traded with Udu for personal gains.
“I am highly delighted that God has proven his power over the power of idols and Juju priests who have offered several cows to unknown powers to secure victory for a man who never won any election. I am so disappointed that some so-called elders in church, pastors, church goers and evangelists could support an evil enterprise for reasons best known to them.
“Here was a man who wrote a letter to Asaba to say his party Chairman, Vice Chairman, serving commissioners and party leaders did not work for him at the election. The question is, who were the people that delivered him? How can you say you won election when the entire Udu was against you because of wickedness and selfishness? God in heaven knew that we won the election. Udu has won over the personal interest of an individual. They said they own Asaba. They ‘bought’ the tribunals but the Appeal Court proved a hard nut for them to crack. Today, God has proved himself.
“Never again will any man rise to lord it over everybody. Never again will one man want to rubbish Udu people and get away with it. Udu dignity has been restored. The reign of touts and illiterates is over. Let decent people represent Udu for once. Four months from now, those who thought they own Udu will be shown the way out of the council. Udu has been liberated. Wu wu u u. Ewewu u u u’’, Ese Ogboru added in Urhobo.
Chairman of the Collins Egbetamah Campaign Organization, Hon Mike Ibada, in his remarks, returned all the glory to God Almighty, dedicating the victory to the Udu people and the peace of the land.
To Hon Shedrack Okolobi, the development was a huge relief to all. He expressed immense appreciation for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Deputy Senate President, for standing by Hon Egbetamah and proving to all that ‘’indeed, Abuja is not Asaba. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has wiped away tears from our eyes. Omo-Agege na man you be. We pray God to crown everything up with the big one so that Delta state could be liberated for accelerated development’’, he said.
