As the apex court affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal which affirmed Gov Bassey Otu as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Cross River State.
Amb. Otu Abasi, the Executive Director of International Synergy of Advocate for Global Peace and Development Initiative, (ISAGPDI) has Congratulated Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state on his victory at the Supreme Court today Friday, 12th January 2024, You’ve earned people’s confidence’ Amb Otu said.
Amb. Otu Abasi in a congratulatory message made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday, said the judgement delivered by the apex court affirms that the rule of law is meant to protect the will of the people in a free and fair electioneering process.
The appellate court had in November 2023 dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sandy Onor, for lack of merit, he said.
Congratulating the ‘People First’ governor, Amb Otu thanked God for granting the wishes of the vast majority of Cross Riverians who overwhelmingly gave Governor Otu their mandate as demonstrated at the last election, adding that right-thinking citizens knew the end of the court case right from the beginning.
“Congratulations, His Excellency, on yet another victory for Cross Riverians. Because it is the will of God that you lead the good people of Cross River at this appointed time, every obstacle that rears its head shall be surmounted in Jesus’ name, Amen,” Amb Otu prayerfully prophesied.
Now that the litigation is over, the Executive Director of International Synergy of Advocate for Global Peace and Development Initiative, (ISAGPDI),
charged the governor to continue delivering on ‘the Project Cross River’ vision, which, he said, has made the ‘People First’ mantra a totem of the present administration and, in recent times, one of the most used lexicons in the state.
He commended the panel of the Supreme Court for the right judgement, adding that the judgement of the apex court was a victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the responsibility of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act as an unbiased umpire.
READ ALSO: Amb Otu Abasi Congratulates Gov Bassey Otu Victory On Appeal Court, Says Well Deserved Justice
“I must commend the courage and sagacity exhibited by the panel of the Supreme Court, which ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegation and substantial non-compliance.
“On behalf of the International Synergy of Advocate for Global Peace and Development Initiative, (ISAGPDI), i congratulate My Governor on this reassuring victory.
“This victory is coming at a time when Cross Riverian have embraced the ‘People First Agenda’ of the Governor which they rightly voted for.
“This victory is for all Cross Riverians as indeed light has come to outshine the forces of darkness,” he said.
Justice Helen Ogunwimiju who read the judgement on Friday said the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a waste of time and resources.
The court had also slammed N1million naira cost against each of the Appellants in favour of each of the four Respondents, Bassey Otu, Peter Odey, INEC and the APC.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Otu winner of the polls, having polled a total of 258,619 votes winning in 15 of the 18 local governments of the state to defeat his closest rival, Onor who garnered 179,636 votes.
