The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reinstated Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori as the duly nominated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State.
Oborevwori, the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, was disqualified last month after being elected by party’s primary election on 25 May, only to be disqualified in July by a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly supplying false information and submitting forged certificates to INEC to aid his participation in the intra-party process.
The lower court then directed that Oborevwori’s name be replaced with that of the plaintiff, Chief David Edevbie, who came second at the primary.
But on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Olabisi Ige overturned the lower court’s decision and affirmed Oborevwori as the PDP governorship candidate in the state.
Oborevwori is said to be the preferred successor of outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also PDP vice presidential candidate, while Edevbi, who was favoured by the judgment of the lower court, is said to have the backing of a former Governor of the state, Chief James Ibori.
Edevbi served as Finance Commissioner under Ibori.
