August 31, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has ordered the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba to reopen hearing in the petition filed by Ken Pela, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the March 18 gubernatorial election in Delta State.
THEWILL reports that the Delta State Election Petition Tribunal had earlier dismissed Pela’s petition challenging the election of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for non-filing of pre-hearing notice within seven days from the date of lodging the petition.
The three-member panel of the tribunal headed by C.H Ahuchaogu, had, in July, held that “the petition was incompetent” and constituted “a flagrant violation of Electoral Act 2022.”
Dissatisfied with the decision, Pela approached the Court of Appeal, urging it to compel the tribunal to hear his suit on its merit.
Oborevwori won the March governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Governor scored 360,234 votes to beat his closest challenger, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Party (APC), who scored 240,229.
Pela, who came third with 48,027 votes, had, in his petition, urged the court to nullify Oborevwori’s victory, accusing INEC of alleged noncompliance with the Electoral Act.
In the petition, Pela listed INEC as the first respondent, while Mr Oborevwori and his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, were the second and third respondents, respectively. The PDP was joined in the petition as the fourth respondent.
