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The leadership of the People Democratic Party in Delta state has enjoined the party’s teeming supporters and loyal party faithful to remain calm, unperturbed, and law-abiding, over the court judgement against the candidacy of Sheriff Oborevwori as its flag bearer in the 2023 governorship elections.
In a statement reacting to the judgment, the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
assured them that “we are quite confident in our conviction, that justice will be done and we will get judgement at the Appellate Court.”
The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja had earlier in the day disqualified the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, Olorogun Sherrif Oborevwori, from contesting the 2023 election.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Olorogun David Edevbie, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that Oborevwori lacked the legal competence to participate in the election.
The judge held that the suit had merit and accordingly granted the reliefs sought by Edevbie against Oborevwori.
Justice Taiwo agreed with the plaintiff that oborevwori, ought not to be on the 2023 governorship election for the PDP on account of allegedly supplying false and forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the governorship election.
The judge directed INEC and the PDP to recognize Edevbie as candidate of the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Delta.
Edevbie had approached the court following his grievance with the process that produced Oborevwori as the party’s governorship candidate.
It was his contention that the defendant was not validly nominated by his party.
He also held that the PDP violated both its constitution and the electoral guidelines, during its state congress that produced Oborevwori as its flag bearer for the governorship election.
He prayed the court to restrain the party from forwarding Oborevwori’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The aggrieved party member also asked the court to restrain INEC from receiving or recognising Oborevwori as the duly nominated candidate of the party for the election.
The plaintiff also sought an order to restrain Oborevwori from parading or carrying himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.
Oborevwori who is the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly had emerged governorship candidate of the PDP in the May 25 primary election of the PDP.
Edevbie, who came second in the primary, however, contended Oborevwori’s participation in the primary on the grounds of alleged discrepancies in his academic qualifications as well as his age.
He specifically urged the court to bar PDP from submitting Oborevwori’s name as the flag bearer of the party.
He listed Oborevwori, PDP and INEC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/795/2022.
He said that the PDP candidate had used the names Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor interchangeably in his certificates submitted to INEC.
One of reliefs sought by the plaintiff was a declaration that Oborevwori was not qualified to participate and/or be declared the winner of the PDP Delta governorship primary elections which held on May 25.
He also asked the court to declare that having supplied false information and submitted dubious or forged credentials/certificates in order to participate in and be declared the winner of PDP Delta governorship primary elections, PDP should not submit Oborevwori’s name to INEC as it flag bearer.
“A declaration that the plaintiff who, next to the ineligible and unqualified 1st defendant, scored the highest number of valid votes cast at the Delta governorship primary elections, ought to and should be returned and declared the winner and returned as the candidate of the PDP for the governorship elections in Delta scheduled to hold on March 11, 2023.
“A declaration that the 1st defendant should and ought to be prohibited, inhibited, prevented or otherwise restrained from holding out, parading and or advertising himself as the candidate of the 2nd Defendant for the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Delta State scheduled to hold on 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
“An order of court commanding, directing or otherwise mandating the 2nd and 3rd defendants to replace, forthwith, the name of the 1st defendant with that of the plaintiff as the lawful candidate of the 2nd defendant for the gubernatorial elections in Delta.
The judge granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff except relief four which sought the prohibition, inhibition, prevention or otherwise restraining Oborevwori from holding out, parading and or advertising himself as the candidate of the PDP for the governorship election.
PDP urges calm
The leadership of the People Democratic Party in Delta state has enjoined the party’s teeming supporters and loyal party faithful to remain calm, unperturbed, and law-abiding.
This was contained in a statement released by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza, reacting to the judgment.
The statement reads: “Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has received the judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court, against our Gubernatorial Candidate for the 2023 general elections, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on the grounds of discrepancies in his documents.
“We have already engaged our team of legal experts to critically study the ruling and explore grounds on which we can confidently approach the Court of Appeal.
“We want to therefore enjoin our teeming supporters and loyal party faithful to remain calm, unperturbed, and law-abiding, and assure them that we are quite confident in our conviction, that justice will be done and we will get judgement at the Appellate Court. There is no cause for alarm”.
Sherrif Oborevwori reacts, says no cause for alarm
Meanwhile, Oborevwori has reacted to the court judgment sacking him as the governorship candidate in Delta.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly called on all his supporters to remain calm over the Judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja in respect of the Wednesday, May 25th Primaries he won.
Today, Thursday, July 8th, 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja passed a judgement against the candidacy of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Delta State.
In a Press Statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dennis Otu, the Speaker called on all his supporters and indeed all Deltans to remain calm and steadfast in the face of the Judgement, saying that there was no cause for alarm.
According to the Statement; “I wish to appeal to all my supporters, political associates and well wishers to remain calm and law abiding over the Judgement of the Federal Court. There is no need to panic, all is well. We will certainly appeal the Judgement and so let us maintain the peace as all hope is not lost. All is well and it will end in praise to the Glory of God Almighty.
“The courts have always been part of our democratic experience ,and our confidence in the judiciary which is the last hope of the common man is unwaivering. So , as we embark on the appeal process, our supporters and indeed Deltans should kindly note and be rest assured that Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orhowedor Oborevwori remains the Gubernatorial Flag Bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State for the 2023 general Elections. The Sherrification Movement is well and alive and, by God’s grace, we shall overcome”, he added.
“Once again, I want to appreciate God Almighty for giving us victory at all times, and we will certainly not stop praying for more victories because Delta State is in God’s hands and be reassured that He will take us to the Promised Land at the end of the day. We also wish to thank our teaming supporters for their steadfastness”, the Speaker said.