Justice John Okoro-led five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the election of the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
Justice Okoro, while delivering the judgment, dismissed the appeals by the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the Labour Party and its candidate, Ken Pella, against the governor
In the Omo-Agege appeal, the apex court held that the appeal lacked merit and the appellant could not discharge the burden of proof placed on him.
Pella’s appeal was also dismissed for lack of merit.
Omo-Agege accepts Supreme Court judgement, congratulates Sheriff Oborevwori
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has congratulated Oborevweri for his victory.
Omo-Agege, in a statement personally signed by him shortly after the apex judgment, said the unity, peace, and general good of Delta are bigger and more important than any individual or group interest.
The statement read in part, “The Supreme Court today disallowed our appeal in respect of the March 18, 2023 Delta State Governorship Election and affirmed the return of Rt—Hon. Sherrif Oberevwori as the duly elected Governor of Delta State.
“As the final court of the land, all citizens are bound to accept and abide by its decisions even if they do not accord with their personal or collective expectations of justice.
“So, we ask our people to respect today’s decision and give their best to promote peace everywhere in our beloved Delta State. The unity, peace, and general good of our dear State are bigger and more important than any individual or group interest.
“To my dear and dependable brother and running mate, the Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, thank you for your strong character and firm belief in God, who gives power as it pleases Him alone. We ran a great race. Hold your head high as a man of honour. I pray the Almighty God rewards your faithfulness and loyalty beyond ordinary human comprehension.
“Now, to my dear brother, His Excellency, Rt. Honourable Sherrif Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, accept my congratulations on your victory today. It has been a long-drawn-out struggle to offer our people the best in the governance of our State.
“It is about the collective interest and good of our people, not our personal interest. Having now received the Supreme Court’s seal of approval, I must wish you well as a Democrat. May the good Lord guide and abide with you and give you good health, strength and wisdom to govern our State well in Jesus’ Name.”
INEC declares PDP’s Oborevwori winner of Delta gov’ship poll
The Informant247 reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election held in Delta
Prof Georgewill Owuneri Abraham, the State Returning Officer, while announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Asaba, said PDP’s Sheriff Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 240,229 votes and LP’s Ken Pela came third with 48,047 votes.
Declaring Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the winner of the governorship election, Abraham said the PDP candidate, having met the law’s requirement, is hereby declared the winner and returned as Governor-elect.”
The legal tussle
The legal tussle began when the former deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege rejected the governorship result and headed to the tribunal
However, Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu-led three-person panel of the Delta state governorship election petition tribunal on Friday, September 29, affirmed the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while dismissing the petition filed by Ovie Omo-Agege of the All ProgressivesCongress (APC), saying the petition lacked merit.
Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu held that the issues raised were speculative since the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices beyond a reasonable doubt.
Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Omo-Agege in the March 18 governorship election after scoring 360 234 votes to defeat Omo-Agege, who secured 240 229 votes.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal verdict, Omo-Agege headed to the appeal court, where it was dismissed for lacking merit
Similarly, the appellate court, in a separate judgment, dismissed the appeal by the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Ken Pela, challenging the lower tribunal judgment and upholding the election
However, Ovie Omo-Agege, the former Deputy Senate President and the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress in the March 18 governorship election in Delta State, while reacting to the judgment, described it as “a redemption deferred for Deltans”, and proceeded to the Supreme Court to seek justice.
In a statement signed by Mr Sunny Areh, the Media Adviser to Omo-Agege, assured his supporters that “the judiciary, which I have absolute confidence in, will, at the final hurdle, serve justice and redemption now deferred.”
