The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed an appeal by Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), challenging the election of Sheriff Oborevwori as governor of Delta state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Oborevwori, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as winner of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
Miffed by the declaration of Oborevwori, as winner of the poll, Gbagi and his party, the SDP headed to the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to seek the invalidation of Oborevwori’s election.
But the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, on September 29, upheld Oborevwori as the winner of the March 18, governorship election.
Dissatisfied with the dismissal of the petition, Gbagi headed to the Court of Appeal to seek redress.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal affirmed Oborevwori’s election, having dismissed the appeal by Gbagi and the SDP on November 24, 2023.
Again, Gbagi and the SDP filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking the setting aside of the judgement of the two lower courts.
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He prayed the court to declare that Oborevwori was not eligible to contest the election among other reliefs.
But delivering judgment on the appeal, a 5-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Inyang Okoro dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and being incompetent.
The lead judgment was delivered by Justice Lawal Garba.
In a unanimous decision, the panel held that there was no merit in the appeal.
“The appeal lacks merit and consequently, it is hereby dismissed.
“Appeal is hereby dismissed.
“Parties are to bear their respective costs” Justice Garba stated.
