Appeal court didn’t sack Governor Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta Govt
By Omajemite Don –
The Delta State Government has described as fake news reports that an Appeal Court has sacked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The government said contrary to reports, the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja did not overturn the election of Governor Oborevwori as speculated by the Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Ken Pela.
Speaking on the issue, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the Appeal Court only ordered that the tribunal hear the case.
Ahon said, “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.”
He said 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 and therefore could not have won in court. Ahon said, “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.”
He also urged Deltans to remain calm, saying Governor Oborevwori was focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state and would not be distracted by the rumour mills. Ahon said the government’s lawyers were studying the Appeal Court judgment with a view to taking necessary action.
The Appeal Court had on Thursday ordered the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to hear the case filed by Mr Ken Pela, the Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party, challenging the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The tribunal had earlier dismissed the case for lack of merit. However, Pela appealed the decision of the tribunal.
The Appeal Court, in its judgment, ordered the tribunal to hear the case and give a fresh ruling. The case is scheduled to be heard on September 12, 2023.
