The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja has ruled that Sheriff Oberovwori, present Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, is the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
Justice Peter Ige, who delivered the Court of Appeal decision, held that claims against the Speaker were criminal in nature and must be proved beyond reasonable doubts.
The Appellate Court also held that David Edevbie, who instituted the Federal High Court suit, ought to have approached the court via Writ of Summons to enable resolution of disputes and not by originating summons where only affidavit evidence is required.
The Court therefore upheld the victory of the Speaker at the May 25, 2022 primary election where he polled 590 votes to defeat Edevbie who polled 113 votes to come second.
David Edevbie had gone to Court to challenge the authenticity of academic credentials of Sheriff. Justice Taiwo Taiwo had ruled that INEC should replace Sheriff with Edevbie as the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2023.
By this new Court ruling, Justices of the Appeal Court upheld the submissions of Sheriff that his credentials are authentic and ordered that INEC should replace Sheriff over Edevbie as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election.
These legal brickbat has indirectly pitched former governor James Ibori against Governor Okowa. While Sheriff is of the camp of governor Okowa, Edevbie belongs to the camp of Ibori.
From all indications, this matter may go up to the Supreme Court, as Edevbie is expected to appeal the judgment of the Appeal Court.
Will the two main principals in this matter, Ibori and Okowa, settle this matter through a political solution, or will they go to the Supreme Court for the final judgment? Only time will tell.