The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to replace Sheriff Oborevwori with David Edevbie as the governorship candidate of the party in Delta State.
The order was part of a judgement delivered by presiding judge, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo who ordered for Oborevwori to be sacked as PDP flag bearer over discrepancies with his certificates.
Justice Taiwo ruled that the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly was not qualified to contest the primary election he emerged winner.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Justice Taiwo said the claimant, Olorogun David Edevbie proved beyond doubt that Oborevwori presented false information in his documents, hence adjudging him unqualified for the May 25 contest.
The court also prevented the PDP from transmitting Oborevwori’s name as its flag bearer to INEC for the 2023 election.
Justice Taiwo further ordered for the PDP and INEC to replace the defendant’s name with that of the plaintiff as its governorship candidate for the 2023 contest having scored the second highest votes at the primary election.
The full ruling read;
1. A DECLARATION that the 1st Defendant is not qualified to participate and/or be declared the winner of the 2nd Defendant’s Delta State Governorship Primary elections which held on 25th May, 2022 for the purpose of electing its candidate or flagbearer in the forthcoming 2023 Gubernatorial Elections in Delta State, scheduled to hold on 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
2. A DECLARATION that having supplied false information and submitted dubious or forged credentials/certificates in order to participate in and be declared the winner of the 2nd Defendant’s Delta State Governorship Primary elections which held on 25th May, 2022, the 2nd Defendant herein is legally precluded from submitting, forwarding or otherwise transmitting the name of the 1st Defendant to the 3rd Defendant as the candidate or flagbearer of the 2nd Defendant in the forthcoming Governorship elections in Delta State, now scheduled to hold on 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
3. 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 State Governorship Primary elections of the 2nd Defendant which held on 25th May, 2022, ought to and should be returned and declared the winner of the 2nd Defendant’s Governorship Primaries and, accordingly, returned as the candidate of the 1st Defendant for the forthcoming Governorship elections in Delta State scheduled to hold on 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
4. A DECLARATION that the 3rd Defendant is legally precluded or prohibited from accepting or receiving from, acting on or otherwise recognizing or giving effect to the name of the 1st Defendant as the candidate or flagbearer of the 2nd Defendant for the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Delta State now scheduled for 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
5. AN ORDER of this Honourable Court disqualifying the 1st Defendant from participating as the candidate of the 2nd Defendant in the forthcoming 2023 Gubernatorial elections in Delta state, scheduled for 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
6. AN ORDER of this Honourable 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 forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Delta State, now scheduled for 11th March, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant.
