By Eseoghene Emuke
As the war of words between the Chief Cyril Ogodo and Prophet Jones Erue factions of the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the Federal High Court Judgement in Asaba continues, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor has hinted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would soon withdraw the Certificate of Return issued Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Emerhor, who emerged as the senatorial candidate of the party on the Ogodo-led faction, said grandstanding would not save Omo-Agege in the rift in the party as he was not the candidate of the APC in the first instance for the 2019 General Elections.
The 2015 governorship candidate of the APC stated this on Monday in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant on Media and Social Communications, Mr Aghogho Orotomah, claiming that he remains the candidate and winner of senatorial election for Delta Central.
He noted that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is living in self denial over the Federal Court Judgement, Asaba, which annulled their Erue-led faction and authenticated the Cyril Ogodo-led faction which was sworn-in by the then National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Emerhor in the statement stressed that the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Omo-Agege by INEC would soon be retrieved and re-issued to him as the senator-elect for Delta Central Senatorial District.
The Delta APC leader explained that the Federal High Court, Asaba made a specific order, order no 4 in the court enrolled orders nullifying the full plate of NASS, Governorship and House of Assembly candidates list of Delta APC submitted to INEC through the Prophet Jones Erue Exco where Omo-Agege emerged as candidate.
According to him, “The federal high court Asaba made a specific order, order no 4 in the court enrolled orders nullifying the full plate of NASS, Governorship and House of Assembly candidates list of Delta APC submitted to INEC through the Prophet Jones Erue Exco which contained the following names as APC SENATORIAL candidates to wit:Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan- Delta South Senator Ovie Omo-Agege – Delta Central and Hon Doris Uboh- Delta North.
“Then order 5 went on to identify exhibit S and T as containing the list of the valid and authentic APC NASS, Governorship, and House of Assembly candidates for the 2019 general elections. The Senatorial candidates contained in the court certified exhibits are as follows; Chief Micheal Johnny- Delta South, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor – Delta Central and Chief Mrs Marian Ali- Delta North.
“These enrolled orders have been served by the court bailiff on INEC and INEC has begun the process of obedience to the order by REFUSING to give out the Certificate of Return to three affected candidates of the Prophet Jones Erue annulled list in Asaba on Wednesday March 27th 2019.
“It is therefore obvious that the Certificate of Return already issued to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is in error and it is only a matter of time for it to be withdrawn by INEC and together with those INEC already withheld, re-issue same to Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and others.”
Emerhor pointed out that he would wait calmly for INEC to issue him the Certificate of Return as the duly elected senator for Delta Central on the APC platform.
The statement added, “Senator Omo-Agege has to be in self denial to continue to grandstand that the Asaba FHC judgement does not affect his Candidacy.
“He did the right thing by attempting to seek leave of court to appeal the judgment as an impacted person but unfortunately the court of appeal Benin shut the door on him for sleeping on his right for the last six months and awarded cost against him. Olorogun O’tega Emerhor the valid candidate and Senator-elect for Delta Central awaits calmly his Certificate of Return from INEC.”
