Supreme Court upholds Oborevwori’s election in Delta State

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Supreme Court of Nigeria today upheld the election of Sheriff Oborevwori as the duly elected govenror of Delta State.

In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, f challenging the outcome of the governorship election.

According to the court, the APC and its candidate failed to prove that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2023.

The court dismissed Omo-Agege’s contention that some of the result sheets that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, relied upon to declare Oborevwori as the winner of the election, did not have serial numbers.

The court ruled that if the total number of INEC forms that the Appellants complained about are removed, it would still not affect the margin of lead that was in Oborevwori’s favour.

It held that the Appellants failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law to warrant the setting aside of both the Court of Appeal judgement and the verdict of the Delta State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
Consequently, it dismissed the petition without cost.

Reacting to the verdict, the governor said:

“To the glory of God,the Supreme Court today affirmed me as the duly elected Governor of Delta State. I commend the judiciary, my legal team, supporters and all Deltans. Truly, The judiciary is the last hope of ordinary Nigerians.

“The legal battles are over, it is now time to continue to serve fully the people of Delta state in line with my God given vision, the MORE agenda. And l hereby invite all to join hands with me to move our state forward.

“To God alone be the glory!”