By Kasarachi Azuka, Asaba
Anywhere tribunals want to give ruling, tension takes over.
Details:
The ruling of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja in the case between Ken Pela of the Labour Party and Sheriff Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party, on Thursday, stirred dust in Delta State as residents of the state were confused on what to believe.
Pela reportedly claimed that he won the case at the Appeal Court, to the extent that some people believed Oborevwori has been sacked by the court.
Oborevwori on his own part, said his opponent’s claim was untrue, positing that the court only ordered the tribunal to revisit the petition filed by Pela at the lower court.
The tribunal had earlier dismissed the petition by Pela challenging the victory of Oborevwori at the April 18 Guber poll in the state. Pela asked for a review of the case but his request was rejected resulting in his heading to Appeal, praying for a retrial due to some anomalies witnessed at the lower court.
Festus Ahon, Oborevwori’s chief press secretary, in a statement issued in Asaba, said the appelate court did not overturn the election of his boss as speculated by Pela and his co-travellers.
Ahon stated that the Appeal Court only ordered the tribunal to hear the case.
“We have been inundated by reports from a section of the media that the Appeal Court had declared Mr Ken Pela of the Labour Party as winner of the 2023 Governorship election in Delta State.
“The report is nothing but fake news as the Appellate Court only ordered the tribunal to hear the case.
“From the results declared by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was obvious that the Labour Party did not win the election therefore couldn’t have won in court.
“Our people came out in large numbers to elect Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and they are happy with him. We therefore urge Party faithful and Deltans to disregard the said reports as it was a concoction from the Labour Party and their followers.
“We also urge Deltans to remain calm. As at the time of the fake news, Governor Oborevwori was busy inspecting various ongoing projects within Asaba and its environs. He is focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state and would not be distracted by the rumour mills.
“Our lawyers are studying the Appeal Court judgment with a view to taking necessary action,” he said.
Expectations are rife that following the judgment, the tribunal would reconvene in the coming days to review the case as ordered.
