The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba has commenced pre-trial hearing on the petition filled by Chief Kenneth Gbagi, the governorship candidate of the SDP against Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP and three others.
At the hearing on Thursday, Gbagi, who came a distant fifth at the March 15 governorship election in the state, prayed the tribunal to nulify the election of the PDP candidate, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori .
Speaking through his lead counsel, Mr. Mogaji Ibrahim (SAN), Gbagi argued that Oborevwori and the other governorship candidates, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC, Mr. Ken Pela of the Labour Party and Chief Great Ogboru of APGA, were not qualified to contest the election in the first place.
In his response, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice C.H Ahuchaogu ordered the respondents listed in the petition to served the petitioner their applications on or before June 5, 2023.
However, Justice Ahuchaogu after listening to presentations by all the parties concerned, adjourned further hearing on the petition to June 13, 2023 for continuation of hearing.
Speaking in an interview, the lead counsel to the petitioner, Mr Magaji Ibrahim (SAN) expressed satisfaction with the commencement of the pre- trial hearing.
“Today, the pre trial has commenced and all parties to the petition have responded accordingly.
“As it is now, the substantial part of the pre trial has been conducted today and I am glad with the progress we have made.
“However, what is left now is the motions that are pending which will be taken in the next adjustment day.
“All processes for filling and exchange will be done on the next hearing day, so that nothing will stop the hearing of the applications that are pending.
“Our ground as it is contain in the Act, that is section 134 is the issue of qualifications. We are challenging the qualifications of all the governorship candidates.
“We are saying that as at the time they contested the election, they were not qualified and because of that the person that won and those who did not win stand to be disqualified by INEC.
“So, once the disqualification is upheld, our prayer is that the tribunal should call for fresh governorship election in Delta State.
“By then, only our candidate and his party will be the only one to stand for the election”, Ibrahim said.