- As Crisis Soars In Delta PDP, Okowa, Ibori Trade Tackles
The crisis rocking the Delta state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has soared as a Federal High Court in Abuja has again granted an order compelling the party to desist from recognising Mr Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orhowedor as its 2023 Delta State governorship standard bearer.
The presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a ruling on Tuesday also granted an interim injunction compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not to recognise Sheriff Oborowheri as the PDP’s governorship candidate.
This was contained in a court ruling obtained on Wednesday.
The court order was followed by an Ex Parte Motion in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/715/2022 filed by Moses Ogege and Timinepere Ogobiri of Ward 8 in Patani LGA before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division on May 31, with the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Francis Oborevwori as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The New Diplomat had reported that plaintiffs had approached the court challenging the eligibility of Oborevwori over alleged discrepancies in the academic certificates presented to PDP and INEC.
With the resumption of court proceedings on Tuesday, Justice Taiwo granted an order stopping Oborowheri from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Delta state pending the determination of the matter in court.
Subsequently, he adjourned hearing till June 22, 2022.
Meanwhile, the court injunction has further fuelled the crisis rocking the PDP in Delta, just months to the 2023 general elections.
Recall Oborevwori who is the candidate of the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa won the guber primary, defeating Olorogun David Edevbe who came second.
Edevbe has strong backing from the former Governor of Delta State and PDP stalwart, Chief James Ibori and the suit filed over alleged fraudulent credentials submitted by Oborevwori is said to be another titanic battle between Ibori and Okowa in the coming days.
Pending the outcome of the suit, in the meantime the case is currently threatening PDP’s participation in the 2023 governorship poll in Delta.
