*  Ize-Iyamu                                                                                                                                                   * Obaseki 
By  Ikhili  Monday  EBALU, Benin City 
Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the  September 28,2016 governorship election in Edo state  Wednesday filed petition in the election petition tribunal sitting in Benin-City to challenge the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC).

 Theledgerng.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC September 29,2016 declared the APC and its candidate, Godwin Obaseki winner of the governorship election with 319,483 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of PDP that scored 253,173 votes.

 According to the Electoral Act as amended in 2010 aggrieved parties and its candidates have 21 days within which to file petition against the outcome of the election in a constituted election petition tribunal.

 Speaking with newsmen at the premises of the petition tribunal in Benin-City shortly after filing the petition, the PDP candidate, Ize-Iyamu said he prayed the court to declare him as the rightful winner of the election.

 "We just filed our petition and I think in the next few days you will begin to get briefs about the issues at stake but simply put we are asking the court to declare us as the rightful winner of the election",he said.

 Ize-Iyamu who said the party has good case noted that the prayer was based on the fact the Edo electorate knew whom they voted for in the election.

 He averred that INEC erred in declaring APC candidate winner of the election.

 He noted that the action was to ensure that votes allocated to parties by INEC at the election does not stand the test of time.

 The PDP candidate further added that the decision to approach the court was approved by the leadership of the party, pointing out that democracy will not thrive if electoral frauds and impunity goes on unchallenged.

 "The overwhelming opinion was that we must not allow this injustice to stand, democracy will not thrive if we allow people just to allocate votes and commit all kinds of impunity and say because results have been announced we should just let it go.

 "We have come to court and I want to assure Edo people that our case is a good one, very strong one and by the time the sitting start Edo people will be amazed by the level of desperation to win election", he added.

 He however commended electorate and the people of he state for not taking laws into their hands during the protests against the results announced by INEC.

 Earlier,the state chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih said the petition was filed within the period specify by the electoral law. 

 "We have filed within time and I am very pleased with what we have done today. We have started the process that will put a smile back on the faces of Edo people", he stated.

 He expressed optimism that the party has a "very good"case and by the grace of God we shall reclaim our victory.

 He however urged the people of the state to remain calm while they await for the verdict of the tribunal.