OGBORU LACKS LOCUS STANDI AT THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL - EACGOVDELTA OGHENESIVBE.

...SAYS THE NULLIFICATION OF JONES ERUE'S FACTION PRIMARIES RESULTS IS ENOUGH GROUND TO QUASH THE PETITION.

The embattled and sacked governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, Great Ovedje Ogboru lacks "locus standi" at the Delta State Governorship Election Tribunal due to the subsisting court orders contained in the ruling of Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court Asaba; and upheld in the Victor Ochei matter by Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa, which nullified the 2019 primaries and election victory of candidates produced by the Jones Erue faction of the party.

A lawyer and Executive Assistant on Communications to the Governor of Delta State, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, in his legal opinion contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba said, as it is today Ogboru is not known to law as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in the State, pointing out that the doors of the tribunal must be shut against the petitioner and all other candidates presented for elective positions by Erue's faction.

He noted that to have a "cause of action" the legal rights must exist and the petitioner must establish  that he or she is directly affected by the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so as to enjoy the legal principle of fair hearing.

Gov Okowa's EA Communications and Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration (FCIDA), further posited that Ogboru stand to be treated as a "political leper and candidate not known to law" by the election tribunal and reasonably deserves nothing but outright denial of right of fair hearing.

Oghenesivbe further asserted that the Court haven nullified the 2019 Erue faction primaries and Ogboru being the sacked governorship candidate of APC in Delta State, as contained in the ruling of Justice Toyin Adegoke and upheld by Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa in the Victor Ochei matter, one of the legal consequences is that the petitioner can no longer refer to himself as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in Delta State.

"Its laughable for Ogboru to file petition at the tribunal challenging the results of the election after a court of competent jurisdiction nullified his candidacy occasioned by illegal primaries which was conducted by a non existent Erue party exco as clearly stated in the ruling of my Lord, Justice Adegoke.

"Ogboru's candidacy is not known to law based on the Court subsisting orders declaring the Cyril Ogodo faction as the legitimate and authentic state exco of APC in Delta State, and subsequently declared the election victory of all candidates presented by Erue faction for the 2019 general elections NULL and VOID and of no effects whatsoever.

"It is the law that Ogboru lacks locus standi to file a petition referring to himself or APC referring to him as the 2019 governorship candidate of APC in Delta State, because the court orders contained in the judgment are valid and subsisting since no appeal has been filed, heard  and determined in the matter.

"The governor who was returned elected in Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, won the election overwhelming as a result of his visionary leadership, prudent management of state financial resources, open door policy, transparency in governance, accountability; quality health programmes and policies backed by social insurance scheme, substantial and sustainable jobs and wealth creation, sports infrastructure development, giant strides in the education sector, improved inflow of Foreign Direct Investments, massive roads infrastructure like never before, to mention but a few," Oghenesivbe added.