The ambition of Labour Party to replace the current governor of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has met a dead end as the election petition tribunal on Thursday flung away a petition filed by the party’s governorship candidate, Kennedy Pela.
According to three-man tribunal chaired by Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu;
“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,” the judge ruled. “There is merit in the respondents’ application seeking to dismiss this petition, and accordingly, petition EPT/DL/GOV/01/2023 is hereby dismissed.’’
Pela’s petition had challenged the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election as the Labour Party man sought the tribunal to declare him winner of the exercise after dragging INEC as the first respondent in his petition, Mr Oborevwori and Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme as the second and third respondents, respectively, and the PDP as the fourth respondent.
He also dragged the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege and his running mate, Friday Osanebi, and the APC as respondents.