BY EBRIKU JOHN FRIDAY
The Appeal Court setting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital on Saturday upheld the victory of the senator representing the Northern Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber, Distinguished Senator Dr Rose Okoji Oko.
Senator Dr Rose Oko
The court, while aligning with an earlier ruling by the Election Petition Tribunal declared that Senator Oko of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) validly defeated Mr Wabilly Nyiam, of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the authentic winner of the February 23 election.
It would be recalled that in September the Elections Petition Tribunal had also upheld her electoral victory at the general election.
In her reaction to the ruling of the appelate court, the senator, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment said she dedicate her victory to God and her teeming supporters.
She expressed gratitude to God and the great people of Cross River Northern senatorial district for their continual support and standing by her throughout the period of the case at the tribunal. She also expressed profound appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade, the leadership and members the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for providing the platform for good governance. She added that the victory is a victory for the state government and the party.
She said, “I received today’s verdict by the Appeal Court, which also agreed with the Tribunal and upheld my victory in the February 23 National Assembly elections with gratitude first and foremost to Almighty God.
“My gratitude also goes to the great people of Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State for their continual and unwavering support as well as believe in my electoral victory.
“My campaign organization and I express our appreciation to the Cross River State Governo, His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade, the leadership and members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for providing the platform for good governance. This victory is a victory for the state government and the party.
“Today’s Appeal ruling, is an attestation and indeed a reenactment of our victory at the poll. It’s a victory for our teeming supporters, including leaders, stakeholders, men, women and our dear youths, whose mandate has been authenticated by the Appeal Court judges.
“The verdict of the appelate, is once again dedicates to God almighty, the great people of Northern Cross River, comprising of Bekwara, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja and Yala and our great party.
While saying the verdict of the tribunal is a ‘no victor no vanquish’ victory, she assures that this will further strengthen her determination to continue to push for good governance, adding that she will do all within her constitutional rights as Senator of the Federal Republic to work with others and bring all the democratic dividends meant for the senatorial district and indeed the state.
She further called on her opponent in the opposition political party to join her work for the good of the senatorial district, assuring that her second term in the Senate will be for empowerment of our people, development and growth of our senatorial district.
