THE COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS SENATOR JOEL-ONOWAKPO AS THE WINNER OF THE DELTA SOUTH SENATORIAL ELECTION ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST 2023.

The National and State Houses of Assembly election petitions tribunal's decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division, upholding Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas's victory in the Delta South Senatorial District election on February 25th.

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, speaking on behalf of the panel, stated that the five points raised in Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas's appeal were legitimate. She also pointed out that the tribunal's previous decision was overturned, with N250,000 being awarded as compensation against Michael Diden, also known as Ejele, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

In their petition marked EPT/DT/SEN/01/2023, Michael Diden, also known as Ejele, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) senatorial candidate, and his party contested Joel-Onowakpo's victory in the 2023 National Assembly election. They asked the tribunal to nullify the Independent National Electoral Commission's declaration of Joel-Onowakpo as the 2023 senatorial election winner.

Diden claimed that the majority of valid votes cast in the poll did not constitute Joel-Onowakpo's legitimate election.

The Joel-Onowakpo election was deemed inconclusive by a three-member panel led by Justice Cathrine Ogunsola, who also directed the electoral body to hold a supplementary election in the Warri South council area of the Delta South senatorial district within ninety days. Joel-Onowakpo, however, had filed an appeal against the judgment.