By Nsikak Nseyen A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, refused to grant a motion, seeking an order compelling Independent Nationa...
By Nsikak Nseyen
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, refused to grant a
motion, seeking an order compelling Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) from accepting Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
The court also declined to grant the prayer, asking INEC
from recognising Atiku Abubakar as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
presidential candidate for the next year’s poll.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, ordered the plaintiffs;
Incorporated Trustees of Rights for All International (RAI) and Northern
Nigerian Youth Democrats (NNYD) to put all the defendants on notice.
Justice Ekwo, who refused to grant prayers one, two and
three in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/942/2022 which was dated and
filed June 22 by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Kingdom Okere, however, granted
prayers four, five and six.
The judge further ordered the lawyer to effect service of
the court papers on the defendants within seven days of the order and adjourned
until July 14 for further mention.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that RAI and NNYD,
through their lawyer, had filed the motion seeking for six orders.
Listed as defendants in the application include the APC,
PDP, Tinubu, Atiku, Nyesom Wike, Bukola Saraki, Anyim Pius Anyim, Bala
Mohammed, Udom Emmanuel, Terella Diana, Dele Momodu, Ayo Fayose, Charles Ugwu
and Chikwendu Kalu as 1st to 14th defendants respectively.
Others are Sam Ohuabunwa, Chukwuemeka Nwajuba, Pastor Tunde
Bakare, Ahmad Yerima, Rochas Okorocha, Tein Jack-Rich, Ben Ayade, David Umahi,
Dr Ahmad Lawal, Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Yahaya Bello, Ogbonnaya Onu,
Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu, INEC and EFCC as 15th to 30th respectively.
Among the orders the court declined include “an order
restraining, prohibiting and barring the 29th defendant (INEC) from accepting
the nomination of the 3rd and 4th defendants (Tinubu and Atiku) as the
presidential candidates of the 1st and 2nd defendants (APC and PDP) for the
2023 presidential election pending the hearing of the motion on notice or as
may otherwise be directed by the Hon. Court.
“An order directing all parties in this suit to maintain
status quo which existed before the suit pending as may otherwise be directed
by this Hon. Court.
“An directing speedy hearing/fast-tracking of this suit and
abridging the time within which the plaintiffs and defendants may file their
respective defence/responses in this suit to five days from the date of
granting this application.”
But the court granted an order of substituted service on
Tinubu, Atiku, Wike, Saraki, Nwajuba, Bakare, Yarima, Okorocha, Jack-Rich,
among others.
It also granted an order of substituted service on all the
defendants through a publication of only the originating summons in a national
daily.
Okere, who gave seven grounds why the orders should be
granted, said the “suit is a public interest suit that seeks to promote
constitutional democracy, rule of law, the Federal Character Principle and
principles of equity, justice and fairness in holding the office of the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” among others.
In the originating summons, the lawyer wants the court to
determine “whether having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express
provisions, sprit and tenor of ARTICLES 11 (A) (I), 12 (1) AND 13 (1) of the
Constitution of the APC, 2014 (as amended), the special national convention of
the 1st defendant held on the June 6 and June 7 was properly constituted as
regards the composition of delegates who should attend and vote at the said
convention.
“Whether having regard to the clear, unambiguous and express
provisions, sprit and tenor of Section 33 (1) AND (5) (C ) of the Constitution
of the PDP, 2017, (as amended), the special national convention of the 2nd
defendant held on the May 28 and May 29 was properly constituted as regards the
composition of delegates who should attend and vote at the said convention,”
among others.
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