It was also ruled that the case against Governor Okowa has been adjourned to Thursday, July 9th, at which point the tribunal plans to have a full hearing of the APC and LP allegations against Governor Okowa.
Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, also from the PDP, failed in their attempt to stop a petition filed against them by opposition Parties in Delta State, including the Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The petition called for the formation of an election tribunal to assess whether Governor Okowa legitimately won his gubernatorial race.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Okowa the winner of the April 11, gubernatorial contest.
Governor Okowa, in his preliminary objection through his lead counsel last week, told the three man tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, to strike down the APC and LP petitions for failing to apply for a pre-hearing notice as provided in under paragraph 18 (1) of the Electoral Act 2014 as amended.
The tribunal, lead by Justice Nasir Gunmi, held that all applications would be entertained along with the substantive petitions. Justice Gunmi also said that "motions will be heard alongside the substantive petitions."
It was also ruled that the case against Governor Okowa has been adjourned to Thursday, July 9th, at which point the tribunal plans to have a full hearing of the APC and LP allegations against Governor Okowa.
Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation by Party members and supporters of the APC and LP at the court premises when Governor Okowa’s preliminary objection was overruled.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago another legal maneuver by Governor Okowa failed, which attempted to disqualify the case brought against him and the Delta State PDP from APC and LP leaders.