Emerging reports are suggestive that the name of the Delta state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2023 governorship election is missing from the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) on Friday.
Although Emerald News cannot independently verify the claim, unofficial sources have claimed that the Delta PDP governorship candidate is not included in the list.
The reason, if true, may not be unconnected with the legal battle between the two candidates who are laying claim to the candidateship of the party in the state.
Olorogun David Edevbie and Sheriff Oborevwori have been on hot legal seat over the party candidateship. While it is a public knowledge that the Abuja Federal High Court has sacked Oborevwori from parading himself as the party’s candidate, his supporters have consistently insisted that he had filed a stay of execution suit to the appeal court.
For the past few days, there has been online war between supporters of both over the authentic governorship candidate of the party in the state. Reports also say INEC had received the court judgment and written to the party to remove Oborevwori’s name and replace with Edevbie. It is not clear if the party has done that.
If the rumour going round is true that INEC has finally removed Delta PDP from the ballot, the battle will now be between Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC, Great Ovedje Ogboru of APGA and Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
As at the time of filing this report, supporters of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have already posted his particulars published by INEC online.
Meanwhile, political observers have given reasons why Delta PDP failed to make the list.
Recall that a court had disqualified Oborevwori over discrepancies in the names on his academic certificates and declared Olorogun David Edevbie as the authentic flag bearer.
Edevbie’s supporters also said INEC had acknowledged the 59-year-old politician by beginning the process to replace the Speaker’s name with his.
But, a social media commentator who reacted to the news that PDP is out of the race, wrote: “David Edevbie’s name wasn’t submitted before the 15th July by PDP.
“INEC guidelines states that parties should submit their candidates’ name through the party’s portal and PDP failed to do that; so who’s at fault?
“They had the judgment on the 14th July served to PDP and INEC but PDP refused to submit the name.
“15th July was the last day for submission of guber and house of assembly candidates, 12th August is for REPLACEMENT OF CANDIDATE and you must submit first before replacement.
“They got the judgment before the deadline but PDP refused to send it. That informed INEC to write PDP on the 18th acknowledging the receipt of the Court judgment.
“Because INEC expected PDP to act but they refused. INEC and PDP got the Court judgment on 14th July and deadline was 15th July. Who’s to be blamed?”
However, PDP supporters have said that INEC does not have a deadline in publishing names of candidates for political parties.
Also, another source said the name of David and Sheriff are with INEC, adding that INEC’s legal team are studying the situation.
This may not be the last on this issue, he added.
