The National Working Committee (NWC), of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has disassociated itself from a letter signed by the sacked Delta State chairman, Oke Idawene, asking one E.S Ogbomade Esq, to take steps to file the appropriate papers for the withdrawal of SDP and to strike out its name as petitioner in the petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal filed by the party’s governorship candidate, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, against the emergence of Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in the March 18th general election in the State.
According to a letter signed on Wednesday 10th May 2023, by the National Chairman, Alhaji Musa Shehu Gabam and the National Legal Adviser Aderemi A. Abimbola and made available to journalists, read: “the National Working Committee of our great party, hereby wishes to disassociate the 2nd petitioners from an application filed before the tribunal by one E.S Ogbomade Esq an unknown and an unauthorized counsel on behalf of our party”.
They alleged that Idawene is seeking to jeopardize Gbagi’s ambition of coming to liberate Delta State with his action.
The party further stated as follows that “the 2nd petitioners, Social Democratic Party (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 National Working Committee and National Legal Adviser in accordance with the provisions of our constitution.
“The above named counsel E. S 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 was warned and advised against filing such application after being hinted of the move through our South/South National Vice Chairman.
“The party through the office of the National Legal Adviser has resolved to file a petition against the said counsel with the Nigerian Bar Association for disciplinary action.
“We therefore urge that your Lordships discountenance totally the said notice of withdrawal of the petition filed by a counsel whose name is not on record before the tribunal and an impostor who would soon be a subject of investigation and discipline by Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee (LPDC)”, the duo said.
It would be recall that on 19th April 2023, Idawene in a letter of instruction through one E.S Ogbomade Esq, has written to withdraw SDP and to strike out its name as a petitioner from the petition tagged: “Petition No. EPL/EL/GOV/02/2023.
