A federal high court sitting in Abuja has allowed a suit challenging the candidacy of Ondo governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu as the legitimate candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent Ondo election.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a ruling, dismissed the notice of preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit, which was filed by Akeredolu’s co-aspirant in the APC’s primary, Olusegun Abraham.
The judge also dismissed Akeredolu’s argument that he was not properly served with the processes.
The suit had been filed by Abraham through his lawyer, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN).
He prayed the court to declare that the primary was held in violation of provisions of the APC’s Electoral Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election 2014.
In his suit, Abraham prayed the court to issue:
An order setting aside the Ondo State Governorship primary of the 1st respondent (APC) held on September 3, 2016 for non-compliance with provisions of the APC Elections Guidelines 2014 as amended for Primary elections, and Electoral Act 2010 as amended and APC Constitution as amended.
An order setting aside the submission by the 3rd defendant (Odigie-Oyegun) as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress of Ondo State.
An order compelling the 4th defendant to extend time within which the 1st defendant shall conduct fresh governorship primary election of the 1st defendant based on the Congress and Congress Appeal Committee’s Delegates’ List, 2014 and in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, 2014, as amended, APC Electoral Guidelines, 2014 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
Justice Dimgba, after dismissing Akeredolu’s objection on Friday, adjourned till February 2, 2017 for the hearing of the substantive suit.