How Tribunal dismissed APC, SDP petitions, affirmed Oborevwori as Delta governor

The Delta Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba has affirmed Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor of Delta.

The three-member panel of judges led by Justice C. H Ahuchaogu in a very crucial verdict ruled that Omo-Agege’s petition lacked merit and stood dismissed.

Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had filed a petition challenging the March 18 election.

In a second judgment delivered on Friday, the tribunal also dismissed the petition filed by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against Oborevwori’s election.

Affirming the election of Gov. Oborevwori, the tribunal ruled that Omo-Agege failed to prove the allegations in his petition beyond reasonable doubt.

The APC’s governorship candidate had alleged in his petition that Oborevwori was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes.

He also deposed that the conduct of the election did not comply with the provisions of the law by reason of alleged corrupt practices.

Omo-Agege had in his petition sought the order of the tribunal to void the election of Oborevwori and the Certificate of Return issued to the petitioner.

The tribunal ruled, however, that Omo-Agege could not substantiate his allegations.

“These allegations are lacking in merit, and are merely speculative,’’ it ruled.

In the second judgement, the tribunal also dismissed the petition filed by Gbagi against the election of Gov. Oborevwori.

It ruled that the allegations contained in the petition could not be proven beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore, lacked merit.