The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2019 governorship election in Delta State has yet to serve the incumbent governor and governor-elect, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa with election petition.

The petition marked, EPT/DT/GOV/01/2019 was however delivered by a substituted service granted the 1st and 2nd petitioners, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru and the All Progressives Party, after series of alleged evasiveness by the first respondent, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to personally receive the petition as reported by the petitioners to the tribunal.

Chief Great Ogboru, Delta State APC gubernatorial candidate in the March 9, 2019 governorship election, is amongst others, challenging the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the election tribunal holden in Asaba.

The suit filled by the APC candidate has Governor Okowa as the 1st respondent while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC are the 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

The petition revealed that, the chairman of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the state, Hon. Justice Suleiman Belgore granted an order for substituted service of the petitioner petition No. EPT/DT/GOV/01/2019 dated 25/3/19, filed on 31/3/19.

At the tribunal proceedings on Friday, April 12, 2019, upon reading the Motion Ex Parte and the Affidavit deposed to the court by a close associate of the APC gubernatorial candidate and after hearing the submissions of TieTie Esq. counsel to the Petitioners, Justice Suleiman Belgore ruled that, “It is hereby ordered that the 1st respondent, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa be served the petition and other processes by substituted means to wit: service through the secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (P.D.P), Delta State Chapter, Asaba or through any officer in his office.”

Meanwhile, Chief Obi Nzeteh, Secretary, Delta State PDP, could not confirm the status of the petition as he declined comments.