By Felix Ekwu
The Supreme Court will Friday, October 21, 2022, deliver judgement on the appeal brought before it by David Edevbie challenging the judgement of August 29, 2022, of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, which declared Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor as the lawful and authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State for 2023 general elections.
A 5-member panel of the Apex Court presided over by Justice Amina Augie announced the date today Wednesday, October 12, 2022, after listening to the various submissions by the legal counsels to the parties in the suit.
Recall that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja following an appeal filed by Oborevwori and the PDP on August 29, 2022, set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division delivered by Taiwo O. Taiwo, on July 7, 2022, declaring Edevbie as the lawful and authentic governorship candidate in Delta State on the ground that the documents submitted to INEC by Oborevwori contain discrepancies that are irreconcilable.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the Appellate Court, Edevbie on September 8, 2022, filed a Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of August 29, 2022, of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Edevbie approached the Apex Court with 23 grounds of appeal contained in a 22-page Notice of Appeal marked SUIT No. FHC/ABJ/CS/795/2022.
Oborevwori on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, emerged as the winner of the PDP governorship primary which was conducted at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the state capital.
Since the beginning of the legal battle between Edevbie and Oborevwori, the PDP in Delta has been deeply polarised leading to the formation of the Delta Unity Group (DUG).
The group parades among other heavyweights, three former Speakers of the State Assembly, former and serving members of the House of Representatives, House of Assembly, Civil Commissioners and other ranking leaders of the party who incontrovertibly command huge followership in their respective constituencies and senatorial districts.
It is expected that the outcome of the judgement of the Supreme Court will set the PDP family in Delta State in the right frame and mood for the campaigns for the 2023 general elections which have since commenced.
