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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgement on the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship candidate for Delta state Southern Nigeria, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, against the federal high court judgement that ordered he be replaced with the plaintiff, David Edevbie.
Justice Peter Ige said they would communicate the date for the judgement to all the parties.
Being a pre-election matter, the 180 days stipulated by the Constitution for adjudication of election matters as it relates to Delta state will elapse on September 5.
Justice Peter Ige made this known in a ruling after all Counsels adopted their arguments.
Recall that on July 7, 2022, the Federal High Court Abuja faulted the certificates and other documents filed by Sheriff Oborevwori for nomination as Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP.
The court commanded the party and INEC to recognise Olorogun David Edevbie as the rightful and lawful candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.
Mr. Oborevwori, also the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, was accused of supplying false information and submitting forged certificates to participate and emerge as the winner of the PDP governorship primary in the state.
The order, issued on July 7 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was served on INEC in its headquarters in Abuja.
The order directed the PDP and INEC to replace Mr. Oborevwori’s name with the plaintiff, David Edevbie, who scored the second highest votes in the party’s governorship primary.
“The 1st Defendant (Mr Oborevwori) should and ought to be prohibited, prevented or otherwise restrained from holding out, parading and or advertising himself as the candidate of the 2nd Defendant (PDP) for the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Delta State scheduled to hold on March 11, 2023 by the 3rd Defendant (INEC),” Justice Taiwo said in the order.
Mr. Oborevwori is said to have used Oborevwori Sheriff and Francis Orohwedor interchangeably in his certificates submitted to INEC.
At the resumed hearing Friday, Counsel to Sheriff (appellant) Mr.Damian Dodo SAN urged the court to allow the appeal in the interest of Justice because the appeal has merit.
Also, Counsel to PDP Mahmoud Magaji SAN told the court to set aside the judgment of the Federal High court Abuja that seeks to disqualify his client.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Eko Ejembi Eko SAN, challenged the appeal and urged the court not to entertain the matter and go with the Federal High court judgement.