Dafinone Heads To Appeal Court As Tribunal Orders Rerun in 23 Polling Units Within 90 days, Urges Supporters to be Calm

…Says no cause for alarm

The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ede Dafinone has directed his legal team to appeal the verdict of the Delta State Petition Tribunal which ordered a rerun in 23 polling units out of the 2,180 units in the district.

The senator in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, promised to defend the mandate which the people of Delta Central gave to him freely.

While urging the party faithful, supporters, and the great people of Delta Central to remain calm and steadfast, the senator said that all will end in praise.

In his words, “The National Assembly Petition Tribunal sitting at Asaba today nullified my return as the winner of the Delta Central Senatorial Election of 26th February, 2023 and ordered a supplementary election within 90 days in only 23 polling units, out of the 2,180 units in the district.

“While I respect the ruling of the tribunal, I do not accept its decision. I have therefore directed my legal team to appeal the judgement immediately.

“Like we promised during our campaign to defend our votes, we shall fulfill our promise by defending the mandate which the people of Delta Central freely gave to us.

“It is instructive to note that despite the cancellation of the affected units, we are still having an insurmountable lead over our closest opponent.

“As a consequence, we are not perturbed by today’s momentary setback which we shall surely overcome.

“We, therefore, urge our party faithful, supporters, and the great people of Delta Central to remain calm and steadfast, because this also shall end in Praise!”

It would be recalled that The Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer for Delta Central, Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba, announced Dafinone as the winner at the INEC Collation Centre in Ughelli.

Agbalagba noted that Dafinone of the APC polled 109,197 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ighoyota Amori, who scored 101,385 votes to come second.