The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court presided by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 7 which disqualified the nomination of the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori Sheriff, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on allegations of certificate forgery and perjury. The appeal court reinstated Speaker Oborevwori Sheriff as the PDP governorship candidate in Delta State for the 2023 general elections.
Justice Peter Ige, delivering the judgment, held that claims against the Speaker are criminal in nature and must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge also held that David Edevbie, who instituted the suit at the Federal High Court, ought to have approached the court through a Writ of Summons to enable the resolution of disputes and not by originating summons where only affidavit evidence is required.
The judge further held that issue of certificate forgery and faking of documents allegations against the Speaker are such that required witnesses from those who issued the certificates and the alleged fake documents.
Justice Ige, therefore, upheld the victory of the Speaker in the May 25 PDP primary election where he had 590 votes to defeat Edevbie who had 113 votes to place second.