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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dissociated itself from a letter for the withdrawal of the party from the petition by it’s governorship candidate in Delta State, Kenneth Gbagi, challenging the declaration of Sheriff Oborevwori of the People Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the March 18, 2023 election.
Oke Idawene who until recently was the stage chairman of SDP, had through his counsel, E.S. Ogbomade, written to the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, asking for the withdrawal of the party from the petition filed by Gbagi.
But in another letter to the tribunal jointly signed by the national chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam and national legal adviser, Aderemi Abimbola, stated that Ogbomade was an unknown counsel to SDP, and could never act on behalf of the party at any level.
The letter which was made available to our correspondent in Asaba alleged that the erstwhile state chairman, Idawene, was seeking to jeopardize Gbagi’s ambition of coming to liberate Delta State with his application for withdrawal.
It read in parts: “The 2nd petitioners, SDP, has not instructed any counsel to file any application for the discontinuance of the petition filed before your honourable tribunal.
“That SDP reconfirms that we are party to the said petition before the honourable tribunal and the governorship candidate, 1st petitioner is the flag bearer of the party for the 2023 election.
“The above stated petition was initiated by due process and signed on behalf of our party by the national legal adviser who is authorized by the National Working Committee under our party constitution to initiate any action in court amongst others.
“Pertinent to state here, that no state chapter of the party can initiate court action nor defend court action without prior approval of the NWC and national legal adviser in accordance with the provisions of our constitution.
“The above named counsel, Ogbomade Esq that filed the application for withdrawal is unknown to the party hence, he is an impostor.
“Equally, important to inform your lordships that the said counsel was earlier warned and advised against filing such application after being hinted of the move through our South-South national vice chairman.”
It added tap the party would file a petition to the Nigerian Bar Association for disciplinary action against the said counsel.
