The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed October 21 for judgment in the appeal filed by David Edevbie against the ruling of the Court of Appeal on who flies the flag of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election.
It could be recalled that the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered judgment in favour of Edevbie but it was overturned by the Court of Appeal in favour of Sheriff Oborevwori, the Speaker of the Delta State House of assembly. Edevbie then proceeded to the apex court to seek re-affirmation of his candidacy.
Edevbie, in a 23-ground of appeal filed by his lawyer, Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN, faulted the entire decision of the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Peter Ige and is asking the Supreme Court to restore his candidature of the PDP in the election slated for February next year.
After hearing parties at the sitting on Wednesday, October 12, the Supreme Court then fixed the judgment day for Friday, October 21.
A PDP chieftain from the Central Senatorial District, who spoke to The Point on condition of anonymity, expressed fear that the failure of the party’s leadership to ensure an amicable settlement of the matter may not augur well for the party in the next coming election.
He argued that a lot of division and disagreement have been introduced into the party as a result of the tussle between the two Urhobo sons, saying if care was not taken the opposition All Progressives Congress will take advantage of the situation and knock the party out of Government House, Asaba.
“Well, October 21 is next week. We wait for what the Supreme Court will say. My only fear is that the party leadership, especially the state party leadership and Delta Central party leadership of the PDP failed. They should not have allowed the matter to go to Court. In fact they should have respected the choice of the UPU. But ego and desire to get even drove some leaders on the path that led us to the present.
“You know of Delta Political Vanguard. You also heard of the Delta Unity Group. These two groups are in the same Delta PDP one supporting Oborevwori, the other supporting Edevbie. Don’t be deceived, there is tension and there is anger, and bitterness, in fact, a lot of it in the party in the state and that is where my fear lies because the APC is working round the clock to take over the state. Care must be taken to manage very carefully the decision of the Supreme Court, whatever it may be, otherwise, APC will capitalize on it in Delta State,” he said.
