By Nicholas Ojo
The Supreme Court has affirmed the nomination of Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Delivering judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Amina Augie, upheld the decision of the Abuja Court of Appeal.
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During the PDP primary in May, Oborevwori polled 590 votes to beat David Edevbie, the commissioner for finance during the James Ibori administration, who polled 113 votes.
While Oborevwori is the preferred candidate of Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta Governor), James Ibori (a former governor), is said to be backing Edevbie.
The Delta State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election, Mr. David Edevbie, two weeks after an Appeal Court voided his declaration by a Federal High Court, asked the Supreme Court to re-affirm his candidacy.
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Edevbie, in a 23-ground of appeal, faulted the entire unanimous decision of the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Peter Ige and asked the apex court to hold that he is the rightful candidate of the PDP in the Delta State governorship election slated for February next year.
The appeal filed by his lawyer, Mr. Eko Ejembi Eko (SAN), has Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, respectively.
Following the governorship primary election held in the state on May 25, 2022, Oborevwori had emerged as the PDP candidate after overcoming his closest rival, Edevbie.