Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, on Friday upheld the victory of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in the March 18, 2023, governorship election.
Chairman of the tribunal, Hon Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, led other Justices, Hon. Justice E. Enenche and Hon. Justice Hadiza L. Musa, to the ruling.
The tribunal in its ruling held that “the petitioners have failed to prove the noncompliance with electoral act alleged by them in 1333 polling units.
“The recognizable evidence in proof of overvoting is BVAS, voters register and form EC8A. The petitioners did not only fail to plead the above,……, they were also not tendered……voters register was not pleaded with regularity.
“Their allegation of non-filling of forms EC25 and EC40 Series..was not proved, they failed to demonstrate the noncompliance by evidence rather, PW1 admitted under cross-examination that the form was filled.
“On corrupt practices, the petitioners have failed to prove with cogent evidence the alleged corrupt practices and inflation of votes.”
The tribunal further held that the petitioners failed to prove or demonstrate that the inflation of votes in Ibusa Ward 8 or other polling units substantially affected the final result of the election considering the margin of winning votes.