Did Jonathan Warn Tinubu Against Influencing Tribunal Judgement? – Project FactCheck Nigeria

A video clip posted by Hi Chief Sunny Odogwu, a Facebook user, claimed that the tribunal has declared Kennedy Pela, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), winner of the 2023 Delta guber election.

The claim is FALSE.

The six-minute-long video was posted on August 31 with the caption

“BREAKING: Court of Appeal Delares Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Ken Pela As Winner Of The Delta State Guber Election,”

It has gathered more than 70,000 views, 266 comments and 1,300 likes.

In a report by TheCable, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered the Delta state gubernatorial tribunal to hear the suit filed by Pela of the LP.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Sheriff Oborevwori, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the March 18 election in the state.

Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 240,229, Pela came third with 48,027 votes, while Great Ogboru of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came fourth with 11,021 votes.

Pela and his party filed a petition challenging the result on the grounds of non-qualification of the candidates who came first and second, corrupt practices, and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

They asked the tribunal to declare Pela the winner of the election or in the alternative, annul the election and conduct a fresh one.

C.H Ahuchaogu, the chairperson of the tribunal’s three-member panel, dismissed Pela’s petition while ruling on the application.

Pela and LP proceeded to the court of appeal on August 31, the appellate court granted the prayers of the appellants and ordered that the petition be returned to the tribunal and be heard on its merit; no further judgement yet.

CONCLUSION

The post claiming the tribunal has declared Pela as the winner of the Delta governorship election is false.