The Court held that Oborevwori was not validly nominated by the PDP
By Emma Ogbuehi
Crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre, since its May 28 presidential primary, has extended to the Delta wing of the party as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, disqualified its state candidate for the 2023 governorship elections, Sherrif Oborevwori.
The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, held that Oborevwori, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, was not qualified to participate in the election.
The verdict followed a suit that was brought before the court by an aggrieved member of the party, Olorogun David Edevbie.
The Plaintiff had among other things, contended that the Defendant was not validly nominated by his party.
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He told the court that PDP violated both its constitution and the Electoral Guidelines, during its state congress that produced Oborevwori as its flagbearer for the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
Consequently, the Plaintiff, prayed the court to restrain the party from forwarding Oborevwori’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and to also restrain the electoral body from receiving or recognising him as the duly nominated candidate of s the party for the election.
More so, the Plaintiff, sought an order to restrain Oborevwori from parading or carrying himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.
Also cited as Defendants in the matter were the PDP and INEC.
Meanwhile, in his judgement on Thursday, Justice Taiwo held that the suit was meritorious. He accordingly granted the reliefs against Oborevwori.
Oborevwori, who enjoys the support of the governor and vice presidential candidate of the party, Ifeanyi Okowa, had on May 25, been declared PDP Delta guber ticket with 597 votes, beating 13 other aspirants. Edebvie, said to be backed by the former governor, James Ibori, came distant second with 113 votes.
