COURT THROWS OUT UDUAGHAN

The appeal panel had earlier dismissed the petition brought before it by Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Mr. Peter Okocha, who sought the nullification of Uduaghan's election because on the grounds that Okocha was excluded from by INEC from contesting the 2007 election.

Chieftain  of  the  Peoples  Democratic  Party  [PDP] in  Delta  State  Chief E.K Clark  said  his  supporters  and himself were  happy  with  the  ruling.

Clark, who is the Ijaw National Leader and political godfather of President Goodluck Jonathan, said, 'It is a wonderful and fantastic ruling.' He  also said  that  in  90  days'  time,  'a  new  governor  will  be sworn  in  Delta  State.'

Uduaghan, who is a cousin of former state governor James Ibori and Ibori's former Health Commissioner, is a political enemy of Chief Edwin Clark and by extension, of the Jonathan Presidency. The Presidency is thought to prefer Niger Delta Minister Dr. Orubebe as Delta State governor. Orubebe had contested the PDP's 2007 primaries against Uduaghan.

It was not clear whether the Appeal Court ordered the re-run poll to be conducted only between those candidates who contested the 2007 election, as it did in previous cases of gubernatorial election annulment in Sokoto, Kogi, Adamawa, Cross River and Bayelsa States.

Thousands of opposition party supporters jubilated in the streets of Benin following yesterday's court ruling.