Tribunal Upholds Oborevwori’s Election

Sylvester Idowu in Warri and Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba yesterday upheld the victory of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

The three-man tribunal that gave the ruling was led by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu (Chairman), Justice E. Enenche and Justice Hadiza L. Musa.

The tribunal in its ruling held that the petitioners have failed to prove the non-compliance with Electoral Act alleged by them in 1,333 polling units.

“The recognisable evidence in proof of over voting are BVAS ,voters register and form EC8A. The petitioners did not only fail to plead the above, they were also not tendered, voters register was not pleaded with regularity.

“Their allegation of non filling of forms EC25 and EC40 Series, was not proved, they failed to demonstrate the non-compliance by evidence rather, PW1 admitted under cross-examination that the form was filled.

“On corrupt practices, the petitioners have failed to prove with cogent evidence the alleged corrupt practices and inflation of votes.”

The tribunal further held that the petitioners failed to prove and/or demonstrate that the inflation of votes in Ibusa Ward 8 or other polling units substantially affected the final result of the election considering the margin of winning votes.

Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has directed his legal team to immediately proceed with an appeal against the judgement of the governorship election tribunal that upheld the election of Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as governor of Delta State.

He said the tribunal failed to reckon with the fundamental flaws in the March 18, 2023 governorship election that mortally rendered the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner untenable.

“It is a no-brainer that the Tribunal operated under a very challenging environment. It therefore ignored the unassailable evidence adduced to question the validity of lawful votes as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“I respect the decision of the tribunal, but it is flawed. I have no doubt that these flaws which the tribunal failed to address will be dispassionately evaluated at the Court of Appeal. I have, therefore, directed my legal team to immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal and continue with the fight to restore the sanctity of the people’s vote,” Omo-Agege stated.