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Tribunal Dismisses Petition Contesting Election Of Gov. Oborevwori
The Labour Party candidate Kennedy Pela’s plea to the Delta Governorship Election plea Tribunal to challenge the election of Peoples Democratic Party candidate Sheriff Oborevwori was denied.
However, Mr. Pela disagreed with the decision and declared that he would challenge it.
The case was denied on Thursday by the three-person panel, which was presided over by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, for abandonment, ineptitude, and a blatant breach of the Electoral Act of 2022.
“The petition is incompetent and was issued in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“We resolve this application in favour of the second and third respondents.
“There is merit in the respondents’ application seeking to dismiss this petition and accordingly, petition EPT/DL/GOV/01/2023 is hereby dismissed.’’ Justice Ahuchaogu declared.
Pela joined INEC as the first respondent in the petition and Oborevwori and his deputy, Mr Monday Onyeme as the second and third respondents, respectively and the PDP as the fourth respondent.
He also joined the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Ovie Omo-Agege and his running mate, Mr Friday Osanebi, and the APC as respondents.
In the petition, Mr Pela challenged the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election and asked the tribunal to upturn the declaration of Oborevwori as winner.
Mr Damian Dodo (SAN) lead counsel to Oborevwori and Onyeme had argued in an earlier application that Pela had abandoned his petition.
He argued that the petitioner failed to avail himself of the seven-day window to apply for pre-hearing notice.
Dodo claims that the petitioner also neglected to request a second pre-hearing notice, thereby abandoning his petition.
Dodo argued that the petition was untimely and incompetent since the petitioner requested pre-hearing notice on May 19 before the closing of arguments.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have disclosed details of their recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the engagement focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clarification came amid speculation surrounding the meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after leaders of several opposition parties attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the president earlier in the week.
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Speaking during a gathering hosted in Abuja by the SDP’s former presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo on Friday, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, said the meeting with Tinubu followed an official invitation from the Presidency and lasted about an hour.
According to Gombe, the discussion centred on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws and restore public confidence in the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to remind the president of the importance of conducting transparent, free, and credible elections.
Gombe noted that democracy can only thrive when governments listen to the concerns of citizens and ensure electoral processes that guarantee fairness and accountability.
The SDP chairman also expressed concern over growing voter apathy, pointing to the low turnout recorded in the recent Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council election witnessed only about seven per cent voter turnout, which he described as a clear sign that many Nigerians are losing confidence in the electoral system.
Gombe urged the government and members of the National Assembly to take urgent steps to review electoral laws and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said political parties used the meeting to raise concerns about aspects of proposed electoral reforms, particularly issues related to indirect primaries and the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
Dantalle explained that the parties appealed to the president to use his influence to encourage legislative review where necessary, noting that reforms should strengthen, rather than complicate, the democratic process.
He expressed optimism that Tinubu would consider the concerns raised and support necessary amendments that would improve the electoral system.
The IPAC chairman also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly adhere to electoral guidelines as preparations for the next election cycle begin.
Earlier in his remarks, Adebayo cautioned political actors against turning the 2027 general elections into a do-or-die contest, stressing that the primary goal of democracy should be the progress and stability of Nigeria rather than personal political victories.
He urged leaders across political parties to encourage citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and transparently.
President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Taiwo Oyedele during his nomination on Wednesday.
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