Appeal Court reserves judgement in PDP Delta governorship ticket tussle
Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgement on the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Delta State, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, challenging the ruling of the Federal High Court of the FCT which had ordered his sacking and replacement with the David Edevbie ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
Justice Peter Ige made this known in a ruling after all Counsels adopted their arguments.
It would be recalled that on July 7, 2022, the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Abuja faulted the academic certificates and other documents submitted by Sheriff Oborevwori to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for nomination as governorship candidate of the PDP.
The court in its ruling, ordered the party and INEC to recognise Olorogun David Edevbie as ‘the rightful and lawful candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.’
Oborevwori, who is also the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, was accused of supplying false information and submitting forged certificates to participate and emerge as the winner of the PDP governorship primary in the state.
The order, issued on July 7 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was served on INEC in its headquarters in Abuja.
The order directed the PDP and INEC to replace Mr. Oborevwori’s name with the plaintiff, David Edevbie, who scored the second highest votes in the party’s governorship primary.
“The 1st Defendant (Mr Oborevwori) should and ought to be prohibited, prevented or otherwise restrained from holding out, parading and or advertising himself as the candidate of the 2nd Defendant (PDP) for the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Delta State scheduled to hold on March 11, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant (INEC),” Justice Taiwo said in the order.
Mr. Oborevwori is said to have used ‘Oborevwori Sheriff’ and ‘Francis Orohwedor’ interchangeably in his certificates submitted to INEC.
At the resumed hearing Friday, Counsel to Sheriff (appellant) Mr. Damian Dodo SAN urged the court to allow the appeal in the interest of Justice because the appeal has merit.
Also, Counsel to PDP Mahmoud Magaji SAN told the court to set aside the judgment of the Federal High court Abuja that seeks to disqualify his client.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Eko Ejembi Eko SAN, challenged the appeal and urged the court not to entertain the matter and go with the Federal High court judgement.
Justice Peter Ige said they would communicate the date for the judgement to all the parties.
Being a pre-election matter, the 180 days stipulated by the Constitution for adjudication of election matters as it relates to Delta state will elapse on September 5.
