Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 Delta South senatorial election, has reacted to the judgement of the Election Tribunal which sacked his rival, James Manager.
Igbere TV had earlier reported that the Tribunal, on Saturday, nullified the election of Manager of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as Senator representing Delta South in the National Assembly.
The Tribunal said the election was marred by irregularities and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued Senator James Manager immediately.
The three man panel presided over by Justice C. O. Onyaebo, in Asaba, the Delta State capital, equally ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election into the Delta South senatorial district within the period of 90 days.
But reacting in a statement obtained by Igbere TV on Saturday, the former Governor of Delta State said the Tribunal should have declared him winner of the February 23 poll.
“While we are happy with the tribunal’s judgement which affirmed my party’s position that the election was rigged and characterized with electoral over voting, we are not entirely satisfied with the judgement as the tribunal ought to have deducted the excess illegal votes and declared me and my party rightful winner of the election.
“In view of this, we shall be challenging the tribunal’s judgement at the Appeal Court to declare us as the outright winner of the February 23rd, 2019 National Assembly Election for Delta South Senatorial District”, the statement partly read.
Igbere TV recalls that Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had dragged Senator James Manager to the Tribunal, arguing that the election was marred by fraud and irregularities.
