The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has been asked by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to wait for the final outcome of court processes before it published the personal particulars of the candidates it nominated for the 2023 governorship election in the State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Chairman of the PDP in Delta, Barr Kingsley Esiso made this known at a mega rally of the party that was held at Ozoro University Stadium in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the State on Saturday.
This translate to mean the PDP has no candidate for the 2023 governorship election in Delta. However, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori had won the governorship primary election conducted by the party in May. A court nullified Oborevwori’s victory and INEC has asked the party to wait.
Notwithstanding, Barr. Esiso revealed that the court’s judgement has nothing to do with the integrity and credibility of the primary election.
The Delta PDP Chairman vowed that the party will defend the outcome of that primary election. He further expressed conviction that at the end of the day, the party and party faithful will have a course to smile.
Esiso said: “Few weeks ago, our party conducted one of the freest and fairest governorship primaries in Delta State and in that primaries, a candidate emerge and our party has dutifully submitted the name of that candidate.
“As a responsible and respectable party, having conducted a free, fair and credible election it is our responsibility to stand and defend the outcome of that primaries. As I speak, the issue before the court has nothing to do with the integrity and credibility of that primaries.
“But I want to say because our party is responsible, that it is the constitutional right, and that right is also backed by the electoral act, of anybody, who feel aggrieved to approach the court. We are not against anybody, therefore, approaching the court.
“But we must also know that if you approached the court and the court gives you judgement, the man you took to court also have the constitutional right to appeal the judgement.
“By the action of INEC yesterday, all we have been told, and that is what we standby, is that PDP Delta should wait for the final outcome of the court process. We have been told by the court, and INEC has reenforced it, that Deltans should wait patiently for the outcome of the process of the court.
“So by the time the court delivers the final outcome of their enquiries, PDP being a responsible and respectable party, we are waiting patiently. But I can assure you ladies and gentlemen that God is not asleep. So, I am very convinced that at the end of the day, we will have a course to smile”.
TNG recalls that the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly had in May won the governorship primary of the PDP for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the State. Oborevwori polled a total of 590 votes to beat his closest rival, former Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief David Edevbie, who scored a total of 113 votes.
Other aspirants are Deputy Gov. Kingsley Otuaro who scored nine votes and the immediate past Attoney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor who also polled nine votes. Sen. James Manager (83); Mr Fred Majemite (six); Ejaife Odebala (three); Chief Abel Esievo, (two); Dr Braduce Angozi; ( two ); Sir Bright Onajefe-Gift, ( three); Mr Chris Iyowaye, ( zero); Lucky Idike, (one); and Chief Ikie Agbarianovwe scored no vote.
However, a former Minister of Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, who was also cleared by the party to run backed out of the primary.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the primary election, Chief Edevbie had taken Oborevwori to court to challenge the disparities in his name and the credentials he submitted to INEC.
On July 7, the Federal High Court, Abuja disqualified Oborevwori from contesting the 2023 election. Delivering judgment, 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 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 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
TNG reports the Oborevwori and the PDP had appealed the court judgement.