… As Sponsors Demand For Refund After Defeat
By Dennis Nwabuike
The last is yet to be heard from the camp of the Enugu Labour Party governorship candidate, Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, who is now sick and hospitalised in a private hospital outside Enugu, following pressure from those who contributed millions of Naira for his election for urgent refund immediately after he was defeated in the election.
Edeoga, who was planning to go the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election, is under intense pressure for refund by those he and his brother-in-law and ex-Minister, Chief Nnia Nwodo assured of his victory in the poll and promised juicy positions and huge contracts.
A source close to Edeoga revealed that Edeoga’s blood pressure has been on increase since after the election.
“Edeoga was taken to a secret hospital outside the state since yesterday to rest and receive adequate treatment.
“As of now, Edeoga may not go to tribunal because nobody is ready to donate money again to hire good lawyers. Those who were lured with all kind of promises to donate before the election with assurance that Edeoga will win are already bombarding Edeoga with phone calls and besieging his home and that of the former Minister from Igbo-Etiti LGA for immediate refund of their monies.
“This has been giving Edeoga and his sponsors especially the former Minister sleepless nights. They are at the crossroads now. They are in dilemma, having been assured of victory in the election that never happened.
“How are they sure they will win PDP at the tribunal? Who will risk his money to support Edeoga at the tribunal again, when those that supported him during election have not recovered and are not sure of recovering their monies,” the source said.
A senior lawyer, Barr. Kingsley Eze who spoke to our reporter said the judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday upholding the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has further dimmed any hope of Edeoga and his Labour Party upturning the victory of Mbah at the election tribunal.
“Recall that the Osun State election tribunal had ruled that there was over-voting. But the appellate court overruled the tribunal, saying it only relied on the evidence provided by the former governor Oyetola and the APC and didn’t prove their case in any way as witnesses did not testify from the polling units. Even so, proving a few instances of rigging does not vitiate the entire result as what the Electoral Act requires is substantial compliance with the act.”
