TheCable

Ighoyota Amori, the lawmaker representing Delta central senatorial district, says the court ruling, which ordered his replacement at the red chamber, is “a miscarriage of justice”.

On Saturday, the appellate court sitting in Benin, Edo state capital, declared Ovie Omo-Agege, candidate of the Labour Party in the March 28 parliamentary election, as winner of the poll.

The judge held that Amori, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), induced voters and also violated principles of the electoral act, ordered that Omo-Agege be sworn in immediately.

But in a statement which he personally signed, Amori disagreed with the verdict, saying the tribunal was right in affirming his victory.

He described his removal as a setback for the “Urhobo nation” and sued for calm, saying “all hope is not lost”.

The statement read: “On Saturday March 28 and Saturday April 25, 2015, the people of gave me their mandate to represent them in the senate.

“Despite the antics and desperation of the opposition parties in the twice conducted senatorial election, the people of Delta Central with determination gave their votes to me, the PDP candidate in the election because of their confidence in me to offer them the needed representation in the senate for the advancement of the Urhobo nation.

“My victory in the twice conducted senatorial election was affirmed by the election petition tribunal which sat in Asaba the capital city of Delta state in two separate judgments against the opposition parties, the All Progressive Congress APC and the Labour Party LP in the tribunal.

“The appeal court sitting in Benin-city, Edo state on Monday December 14, 2015 further affirmed my victory by dismissing in its entirety the appeal brought against me by the APC candidate in the senatorial election.

“Regrettably however, same appeal court five days after reversed itself when it ruled in favour of the LP candidate in the election by upholding all the prayers in his petition.

“Without equivocation, I wish to state that the judgment of Saturday 18th December, 2015 marked a twist in the political history of the Urhobo nation. Going by what transpired at the court that day in all sense of purpose amounted to judicial rascality, judicial somersault and judicial award in favour of an obvious loser who came a distant second. Truly the judgment is a miscarriage of justice.

“The judgment which was delivered in about 2 minutes and delayed for more than two hours, with six other cases pending for determination by same Appeal court points to the Biblical inscription of the: voice of Jacob but, the hands of Esau.

“The judge, who perhaps delivered the fastest judgment in the judicial history of Nigeria, had declined to read the judgment on the excuse that the other two members of the Appeal panel queried him why he alone delivered the previous judgment which went in my favour against the APC candidate.

“The same judge two hours later made a U-turn by delivering the judgment in the absence of the other  two members of the panel in a scenario that appears as though he was acting on orders from ‘Power from above’.

“The judgment no doubt is a major setback to our collective will to right some of the wrongs bedeviling the Urhobo nation and forge a common front in the determination to advance the socioeconomic development of the Urhobo nation. It has once again denied the Urhobo nation the needed representation and leadership in the Senate at this crucial stage of our nationhood.

“I deeply appreciate the countless visits/phone calls and text messages from far and near in show of solidarity and condemnation against the appeal court ruling that has further put a taint in the nation’s judiciary.

“As a law abiding citizen, I wish to sincerely appeal for calm particularly from Nigerians, Deltans and particularly my Urhobo brothers and sisters over the outcome of the Appeal court judgment. ALL HOPES ARE NOT LOST AT ALL. Continue to have faith in me and together we shall overcome this temporary setback. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.”