July 23, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked reports that the party has no governorship candidate in Delta State for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
THEWILL reported that a Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Taiwo, had in a suit No: FHC/ABJ/CJ/795/2022, on July 7th, declared David Edevbie, as the party’s governorship candidate for the PDP in Delta State, while disqualifying Sheriff Oborevwori, over discrepancies in his credentials/certificates.
The court ruled that Oborevwori was not qualified to participate in the Delta State PDP guber primary, let alone being declared the winner, having supplied false information and submitted forged credentials/certificates.
However, reports had alleged that the PDP disobeyed the Order of Court, making the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude the party from the 2023 guber election in Delta State.
Refuting the alleged disobedience to the court Order, the PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, asked Deltans to disregard the social media report.
The statement read: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to speculations in a section of the social media that our Party had disobeyed an Order of Court with regards to our Governorship candidate in Delta State and that our Party do not have a candidate for the 2023 Governorship election in the State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP makes it abundantly clear and states in very precise and categorical term that our Party had not disobeyed any Order of Court and we have a valid Governorship candidate for the Delta State governorship election in 2023.
“However, in the interest and due information of our teeming supporters and the general public, our Party clarifies as follows;
“In line with the new Electoral Act, submission of names of candidates is no longer physical, but by electronic transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Under the electronic process, INEC grants access to its portal to political parties to electronically upload its candidates’ information/particulars; which access for governorship candidates closed on Friday, July 15, 2022.
“With reference to Delta State, our Party duly submitted and uploaded the name of Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor as the Delta State Governorship candidate of the PDP onto INEC Portal on Friday, July 8, 2022.
“On July 18, 2022, three days after the closure of access to the INEC Portal, our Party and INEC received a Court Order directing the substitution of the name of Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor with another name. However, given the closure on July 15, 2022, our Party had no access to the INEC Portal
“Subsequently, the PDP and INEC were served with Court of Appeal processes comprising; Notice of Appeal, Motion for Stay of Execution and Records of Appeal filed by the candidate, whose name was initially uploaded by the Party onto the INEC Portal.
“It is instructive to state that under the INEC guideline, the last day for effecting any change of names of candidates for the 2023 general election is September 28, 2022.
“For emphasis, the PDP currently has a candidate for the 2023 Governorship election in Delta State. If there be any change drawing from the outcome of the judicial processes, such will be duly and appropriately reflected in compliance with the Order of Court. The PDP as a law-abiding Party has always and will continue to comply with Orders of Court in every matter and situation.
“Our Party, therefore, urges our members, teeming supporters and the people of Delta State, to disregard the speculations and remain focused on the platform of the PDP in their determination to consolidate on the achievements of the Governor of Delta State and our Vice-Presidential Candidate, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa.
“The PDP is fully prepared for the 2023 general elections in Delta State, as well as across the nation and will emerge victorious at the polls.”
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