The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Asaba, the capital of Delta state, has issued an order to the respondents involved in the case. They are required to file and serve the petitioner, Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, with their applications no later than June 5, 2023.
The directive was given by Justice C. H Ahuchaogu, the presiding judge of the tribunal, as the hearing of Barr. Kenneth Gbagi’s petition, who was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), commenced.
Ahuchaogu stated that, “I have listened to all the parties. The substantial part of the pre-hearing has been conducted except the pending motions. I therefore adjourn the case to June 13 for the continuation of the petition”
Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, former Minister of State for Education and Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACN) has submitted a detailed petition consisting of 79 pages. The petition targets Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and the All Progressive Party (APC), Ken Pela from the Labour Party (LP), Chief Great Ogboru, and their respective deputies.
Gbagi alleges that all of these individuals were unqualified to contest in the March 18, 2023, election. In a statement to the media following the adjournment of proceedings, Gbagi’s lead counsel, Mr Magaji Mato Ibrahim (SAN), noted that a significant portion of the pre-hearing process had been completed.
Gbagi said, “The pre-trial section had commenced and all parties have responded. What is left are the motions that are pending which will be taken in the next adjustment day”.
“All processes for filling, exchange will be done on that day. So, nothing will stop the hearing of the applications, those that are pending and other will be filed.
“The ground as it contains in the art, is in section 134 which is the issue of qualifications. That is to say “We are challenging the qualifications of all 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 should stand to be disqualified by INEC.
Mr Magaji emphasized that.“Once the disqualification is succeeded, we are saying the court should call for fresh election and then only our candidate and his party will remain the only one to stand for the election”.
