The Delta State Chapter of the the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has welcomed the Appeal Court ruling affirming the victory of Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborovwori as duly elected governor of the state.
In a press release signed by the state Chairman Comrade Emeka Bidokwu made available to newsmen on Friday 24th November, 2023 on behalf of the 18 registered political parties in the state said the outcome of the appeal court has further affirmed the position of the governorship tribunal that ruled in favour of Oborovwori and his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme as duly elected by Deltans.
“Recall that the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, led by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu had on Friday, September 29, 2023, upheld Oborevwori’s election by dismissing the petitions filed against him by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, and the Labour Party Governorship candidate, Kennedy Pela.
The tribunal amongst others held that the petitioners failed to prove the noncompliance with the electoral act alleged by them in 1333 polling units and failed to prove or demonstrate that the inflation of votes in Ibusa Ward 8 or other polling units substantially affected the final result of the election considering the margin of winning votes.
The three-member panel of the Appellate Court presided over by Justice Hamma Barka who ruled on the matter today Friday affirmed the verdict of the tribunal which upheld Oborevwori as the lawful winner of the March 18 governorship election in Delta.
Comr bidokwu said Oborevwori won 21 out of the 25 Local Government Areas in the state with 360,234 votes while his main challenger, Omo-Agege of the APC won 4 by polling 240,229 votes.
The soft spoken state IPAC chairman Bidokwu said the ruling is a testament to the confidence that Delta people have in Oborovwori.
“On behalf of the 18 political parties in the state, we are deeply satisfy with the due diligence done by the judiciary in arriving at this conclusion.”
“This affirmation of the victory is a pointer that the judicial system in our country has evolved, can be trusted and relied upon. Not only that, the judicial process was thorough and deep, as all the issues were delved into without leaving any stone unturned.
“We want to use this medium to urge all political parties to support the governor. We also believe now is the time for work and action. Governor Sheriff Oborovwori has shown capacity. He is on track.”