The Supreme Court, in a decisive ruling on Friday, dismissed an appeal brought forth by Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), challenging the election victory of Sheriff Oborevwori as governor of Delta state. This decision affirms the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Oborevwori, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the winner of the governorship election held on March 18, 2023.
In response to Oborevwori’s victory, Gbagi and the SDP sought to contest the election’s validity by approaching the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Asaba. However, on September 29, the tribunal upheld Oborevwori as the legitimate winner of the March 18 governorship election.
Undeterred by the tribunal’s decision, Gbagi pursued further legal recourse by taking the case to the Court of Appeal. On November 24, 2023, the Court of Appeal affirmed Oborevwori’s election, dismissing Gbagi’s appeal.
Persisting in their legal efforts, Gbagi and the SDP then appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking to set aside the judgments of the two lower courts. Gbagi, in his plea, requested the court to declare that Oborevwori was ineligible to contest the election, among other reliefs.
A 5-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, unanimously dismissed the appeal, declaring it lacking in merit and incompetent. The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Lawal Garba, emphasized the absence of merit in Gbagi’s appeal.
“The appeal lacks merit, and consequently, it is hereby dismissed. Appeal is hereby dismissed. Parties are to bear their respective costs,” Justice Garba stated, solidifying the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Sheriff Oborevwori’s election as the governor of Delta state.
