The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has reserved judgement in Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi’s petition, seeking to disqualify the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and governor of the state, Sheriff Oborevwori and his Deputy, Monday Onyeme.
Gbagi, the flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the March 18th 2023 election, is equally seeking the disqualification of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Great Ovedje Ogboru and Labour Party (LP), Ken Pela and their deputies.
After all the counsels adopted their final written addresses, Justice H. C. Ahuchaogu, who led the three-member panel of the tribunal said on Saturday August 12th 2023, that a date for judgement in the suit would be communicated to the parties.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had on 20th March declared Oborevwori of PDP winner of the March 18th governorship election.
Gbagi, a renowned Criminologist and candidate of SDP, urged the tribunal in his 79 page petition to disqualify Oborevwori on grounds of falsification of documents, electoral malpractices, non-compliance with the Nigerian constitution and the Electoral Act.
Earlier, at Saturday’s proceedings, counsels to the 1st to 13th Respondents adopted their final written addresses and urged the tribunal to dismiss Gbagi’s petition.
Addressing journalists shortly after the tribunal rose, the lead counsel to Gbagi, Mr. Mato Magaji Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appreciated God for the legal journey and expressed optimism to winning the case at the tribunal.
Hear him: “So far, we thank God Almighty. We have done all we are supposed to do humanly possible as lawyers to the petitioners and we have confidence in what we have done and the evidence we have presented in the petition.
“We are hopeful that by the special grace of God, judgement will be in our favour and we will be welcoming you to government house very soon”.