Despite surviving a prolonged legal battle which climaxed with victory at the Supreme Court last Friday, the Delta State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is facing another legal challenge.
The apex court had validated Oborevwori’s candidacy by ruling against the appeal filed by a rival aspirant, Olorogun David Edevbie on the authentic candidate of the party for the 2023 governorship election in the state.
But another PDP member, Aghwarianovwe Ikie has filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to nullify the candidacy of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
In a writ of summons filed on 13th October with the PDP, Oborevwori and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants, Ikie is asking the court to declare that some portions of the information filed by Oborevwori for the PDP primary election were false.
The plaintiff’s claims include: “A declaration that the information, particulars and documents contained in the third defendant’s INEC form EC9 given by the second defendant (Oborevwori) duly sworn to by him on 3oth June 2022 submitted by the first defendant (PDP) and published by the third defendant on 4th October 2022 for the 2023 general election to the office of the governor of Delta State contain false information as they relate to the second defendant’s constitutional requirement for the said office contrary to Section 29(5) & (6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“An order disqualifying the second defendant sponsored by the first defendant from contesting the election to the office of governor of Delta State in the 2023 general elections.
“An order disqualifying the first defendant from sponsoring the second defendant or any other candidate for the office of governor of Delta state in the 2023 general election pursuant to Section 29(6)of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“An order restraining the second defendant from parading himself as a candidate for the office of governor of Delta State in the 2023 general election.
“An order restraining the first defendant from parading the second defendant or any other candidate as her candidate in the 2023 general election to the office of the governor of Delta State.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the third defendant from recognising or doing anything whatsoever towards recognising the second defendant sponsored by the first defendant as the first defendant’s candidate for the office of governor of Delta state in the 2023 general elections”.
Oborevwori has however said that his chances of winning the governorship election is very bright and clearly foreseeable.
He gave the assurance at the weekend to the party and people of Delta State while speaking to Arise TV News.
He hinged his optimism on what he called his positive popularity and general acceptance by the people, and the enviable performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in massive infrastructure and socioeconomic development.
With these, he was confident that he would defeat his opponents with ease, posting a landslide victory.
Oborevwori said that he remained deeply connected to, and with the people of the state from top to bottom as a local content politician who had lived with the people all his life, and still enjoying good times and salvaging bad times with the people across board.
He disclosed, ahead of his declaration for the governorship, he visited former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori and got his blessings to run, adding that now that the Supreme Court has declared him as the duly and validly nominated governorship candidate, he would visit the former governor for his support and prayers, as well other aggrieved stakeholders to urge them to come on board his campaign train.
