Oborevwori Remains Delta Governor, Defeats Former Senate Deputy President At Tribunal

By Ayodele Oni

The Election Petition Tribunal hearing the outcome of Delta State Governorship Election has dismissed the petition filed by the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for lack of merit.

The  three-man Tribunal Panel upheld the victory of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta State Gubernatorial election.

Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu-led tribunal gave the ruling on Friday saying the petition was dismissed on the grounds that it contained unsubstantiated allegations.

The tribunal also noted that it was devoid of merit and was speculative. Omo-Agege came second in the March 18 election.

He is challenging the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare Oborevwori the winner of the election

Omo-Agege, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Deputy President of the Senate, announced his intention to appeal the tribunal’s decision.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege expressed his dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s judgment, citing fundamental flaws in the March 18, 2023 governorship election that, in his view, cast doubt on the validity of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) victory.

“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.”