LAGOS OCTOBER 8TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Celebration galore and thanks to God followed yesterday judgement of the National and State Houses Assembly Election Tribunal, Panel 2 which dismissed petition against the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya.
Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya and Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi were among the personalities spotted in a joyous mood by our correspondent after the case was dismissed.
Chief Felix Anirah, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had dragged Chief Igbuya to the tribunal challenging his election to represent Sapele constituency in the House of Assembly. Dismissing the petition, the tribunal chairman, Justice Bamjoko, said Chief Anirah lacked the locus standi to challenge the election of Chief Igbuya.
According to Bamjoko, the petitioner failed to prove his allegations of over voting, non- compliance with the electoral act and fraud.
it would be recalled that Igbuya had defeated Anirah in the April 11 house of assembly election but the APC candidate rejected the result and approached the tribunal to have the election nullified.

Reacting to the judgement of the tribunal, eleated Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ovwigho Igbuya on Wednesday thanked the chairman and members of the State and National Assemblies Election Tribunal for satisfying the electorate and the society at large by dismissing the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate, Chief Felix Anirah.
He lauded the judiciary for not yielding to calculated lies about elections in sapele.
A statement signed by Mr Henry Ebireri made available to Urhobotoday an online medium, Igbuya described the election of 11th April, 2015 as the most transparent ever seen in the history of the area.
“Elections are not won on the pages of newspapers or through noise making. Those banking their hopes on the judiciary to occupy space at the Delta State House of Assembly should stop deceiving themselves” the statement said.
Igbuya who described the petition as frivolous and gold- digging and its dismissal should be seen as victory for the people of Sapele State Constituency, which he represents at the Delta State House of Assembly, assured his constituents that he would remain focused.
“It is a victory for the people, our democracy and the rule of law”.
He thanked the good people of Sapele Local Government for their support while urging Anirah to join hands with him in attracting development to the area.
“We thank the Almighty God for our triumph at the tribunal. This victory is a call to greater service and sustained commitment to the good people of Delta State”.
In a related development, the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi yesterday congratulated the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya over his victory in the election tribunal and thanked God for the victory just as he described it as a high-grade birthday gift from God to him on his birthday anniversary.
Reacting shortly after the judgement, the highly elated Deputy Speaker said: “how wonderful this our God is. God so love me and has packed this kind of birthday gift for me. I want to congratulate the people of Sapele Local Government area and my boss, the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, The Rt. Hon. Monday Ovwigho Igbuya on his victory today . It’s a victory to the House of Assembly and victory to democracy.”
He reiterated that the victory was a divine concisdence to further consolidate on his joy, even as he called on all warring factions to sheet their swords and join hands with the Speaker and representative of Sapele local government area in the state house of assembly in order to attract more development to the local government area.
The Deputy Speaker further said that the State House of Assembly do not need any form of distractions now but events that will enhance her stability so that members will be focused in the business of making laws.
“We need stability in the house in order to make effective laws to consolidate on Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s prosperity agenda for all deltans.” He said with enthusiasm.