Nomination of Sherrif Oborevwori as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state has been upheld by a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja. 

The appellate court, led by Olabisi Ige, overturned the judgement of an Abuja federal high court which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize David Edevbie as the duly elected candidate of the PDP for the governorship election.

Ige who noted that claims against Oborevwi are criminal in nature and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, added that Edevbie ought to have approached the high court through a writ of summons to enable resolution of disputes and not by originating summons where only affidavit evidence is required.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo had upheld Edevbie’s submission that Oborevwi supplied false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the governorship election.

Edevbie, a former Commissioner of Finance under former Governor James Ibori, who came second in the primary, had alleged that Oborevwori forged his WAEC certificate and age, was not eligible to participate in the election.

During the PDP primary in May, Oborevwori, speaker of the Delta house of assembly, polled 590 votes to beat Edevbie, the commissioner for finance during the James Ibori administration, who polled 113 votes.

While Oborevwori is the preferred candidate of Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta governor, James Ibori, former governor, is said to be backing Edevbie.