Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been restrained in the interim by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja from forwarding the name of Mr. Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orhowedor to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 2023 governorship candidate of the political grouping.
INEC was also restrained from receiving his name and acting in any manner recognising him as the standard bearer of the PDP for the election. The court also restrained Obor- evwori from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the election.
The orders emerged from an Exparte Motion in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/715/2022 filed by Moses Ogege and Timinepere Ogobiri of Patani LGA Ward 8 before His Lordship, Hon Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division on May 31, with the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Francis Oborevwori as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
After listening to Ibrahim Idris SAN, JD Jefia, Osita Alele and Sarafadeen Salimo for the plaintiffs, the court found that there were sufficient grounds to grant the interim injunction sought. Accordingly, the court ordered the defendants to enter a defence within seven days of service to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.
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It also ordered the defendants not to do anything along the line of presenting or accepting Mr Oborevwori as the Delta PDP Governorship flag bearer nor Mr Oborevwori acting in such manner until the final determination of the matter by the court. While the court also granted the plaintiff’s prayers for accelerated hearing, the next date has been fixed for June 9. Reacting, Fred Latimore, an aide of Delta State House of Assembly’s Speaker Oborevwori, said there was “no cause for worries” on the restraining order In a statement, he said: “It is the nature and legal procedures in all Interlocutory Injunction orders for the Respondent(s) to be so restrained in the wisdom of the Court. “That order is not the Court judgment in the substantive suit.
The Defendant(s) and/ or Respondent(s) usually file Defence and the restraining order may be vacated subject to evidence adduced or other legal factors. “All Sheriffied Deltans and supporters of our Principal and party candidate should remain calm and hopeful.
“Delta PDP Guber Candidate, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori shall be vindicated at the end of all litigations. “These legal actions were foreseeable and do not call for worries at all.”
