All is currently not well in the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) even after the legal battle over the party’s governorship primaries between David Edevbie, former chief of staff to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the state Assembly speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, was decided by the Supreme Court in Abuja in favour of Oborevwori.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Edevbie was the anointed candidate of former governors, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that following the supremacy leadership tussle between the former governors and Governor Okowa, there are cracks in the party resulting to the absence of some leaders of the party at the Wednesday’s inauguration of Oborevwori governorship campaign council in Asaba, the state capital.

Ibori, Uduaghan, former secretary to the state government, (SSG), Ovuozourie Macaulay, former finance commissioner and PDP governorship aspirant, David Edevbie, senator representing Delta South in the senate, James Manager, were all absent at the event.

Also, Ibori’s daughter, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, PDP candidate for Ethiope federal constituency, House of Representatives member, representing Ndokwa federal constituency and Edevbie’s running mate, Ossai. N. Ossai, were also among the party leaders who shunned the inauguration of the Oborevwori governorship campaign council.

Also, conspicuously absent were; former deputy governors, Benjamin Elue, Amos Utuama, immediate past secretary to the state government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie, immediate past Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor, former Assembly speakers, Monday Igbuya and Peter Onwusanya, former commissioners in the state, Clement Ofuani, Judith Enamuotor, Mercy Almona-Ise and Frank Omare.

However, reacting to the development, a top government official and member of the newly inaugurated governorship campaign council who pleaded for anonymity, confided in SaharaReporters, that “Those who were absent are very aggrieved and you don’t expect an angry man to come around you when he’s still angry. But Deltans should be rest assured that all the issues will be amicably resolved, it’s a family affair. Deltans can afford to give this state to APC that has brought us sorrows and sufferings. It will soon be Uhuru.”

Edevbie had taken Oborevwori to court, challenging the victory of Oborevwori at the party’s primary election and alleged submission of forged credentials by the Speaker.

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 7, 2022, upheld Edevbie’s claims and voided Oborevwori’s nomination.

The court subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Edevbie as the authentic PDP governorship candidate in the state for the 2023 elections.

The Appeal Court however took a different position. A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal set aside the sacking of Oborevwori as the PDP candidate in the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The panel led by Justice Peter Ige set aside Oborevwori’s sacking on the grounds that the lower court erred in law in reaching the conclusion that Oborevwori was not qualified to participate in the governorship primary election of the party on account of forgery and perjury.

Oborevwori had emerged winner of the governorship primary election held on March 25 after polling 590 votes.

Not satisfied with the verdict of the appellate court, Edevbie approached the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement and uphold the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

After entertaining submissions from both parties through their lawyers in the appeal filed by Edevbie, the Supreme Court’s five-member panel headed by Justice Amina Augie reserved judgement for Friday, October 21, 2022.

The Supreme Court had on Friday, October, 21, 2022 upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on August 29 declaring Sheriff Oborevwori, as the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Tijani Abubakar, also dismissed the appeal of David Edevbie for lacking in merit.