The Delta state governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, has adjourned the petition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi challenging the outcome of the March 18 governorship result.
The tribunal on Wednesday May 24, 2023, adjourned to Thursday June 1, 2023 for commencement of pre-hearing in the petition filed by Gbagi.
The petition was filed to challenge Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Ken Pela of Labour Party (LP).
The state chairman of the party, Chief Mrs. Esther Ikule, and other members of the state executive council, the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Chief Mrs. Rosemary Oshilim, and party supporters were also present in court on Wednesday.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the adjournment, the lead counsel of Gbagi’s legal team, Magaji Mato Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said: “this is a petition against all the respondents that we have brought to court.
“PDP and their candidate, APC and their candidate, APGA and its candidate and LP and its candidate.
“Today, we commenced a pre-trial session and as it is because the 8th, 9th and 10th respondents were not served with notice, this pre-hearing could not continue”.
He disclosed that the matter was adjourned till 1st of June for the continuation of the hearing session.
He assured that the legal team of the Social Democratic Party would conclude the pre-hearing session within the period stipulated by the new Electoral Act 2022, “then hearing of the case will commence”.
The senior lawyer reiterated that they are maintaining three basic grounds which he claimed that all the other political parties and their candidates were not qualified to contest the election.
He also revealed that the election was not conducted in line with the electoral act and other statutory positions of the law.
The senior counsel also said the election was marred with rigging and other electoral irregularities adding that the three grounds are highly pleaded and adequately provided with facts and concrete evidence to justify the course.
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in their reply has conceded that the election was not conducted in line with extant laws.
