Tension mounts as court adjourns hearing on suit seeking to quash Abia PDP guber primary

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Tension mounts as court adjourns hearing on suit seeking to quash Abia PDP guber primary

By Steve Oko

There is tension in the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Tuesday, adjourned till Friday, October 21, suit seeking to nullify the May 25 governorship primary of the party.

Dr Sampson Orji, one of the top contenders in the race, had approached the court and asked for the nullification of the exercise, alleging that the delegate list used in the primary was fraudulently generated.

According to the former Commissioner for Commerce, the doctored list was in favour of the party’s flag bearer, Professor Uche Ikonne.

He alleged there was no three-man ad-hoc congress held in any part of the state contrary to claims by the party.

Wawa News Global reports that when the matter came for hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to the first and second defendants (PDP and Ikonne), A. S Kolawole, filed preliminary objection to the suit.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Rilwan Idris, filed his response to the preliminary objection and expressed willingness to pursue his case, harping on the essence of time.

The presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, also expressed willingness to hear the matter warning that she would not want time to be wasted anymore.

Meanwhile, the matter was adjourned till Friday for hearing of the substantive suit and all other pending applications.

Later in an interview, Counsel to the plaintiff, Idris accused the first and second respondents of causing unnecessary delays in the hearing “apparently to buy time or to truncate the matter because it’s time bound”.

He noted that pre-election matters should be discharged within 180 days based on the new Electoral Act.

Orji’s lawyer appealed to the court to hasten the trial so the matter could be determined before the 180-day period which would expire by November 5.

“After we had filed the suit and served them they spent three months without any respond, and only came today and filed preliminary objection maybe to truncate the matter or to buy time”, Idris fumed.

He, however, expressed confidence in the court for justice for his client.

When approached for his reaction, Counsel to PDP and Ikonne, Mr Kolawole, declined comments.

Orji had earlier denied withdrawing from the race contrary to claims by the party, challenging anybody with proof of his withdrawal document to make same public.

The former Commissioner vowed to fight impunity and rascality in the party, saying that he is out to enthrone internal democracy and due process in the PDP.

He told Wawa News Global that PDP violated its zoning arrangement and jettisoned due process in the election of its governorship flag bearer.

He had earlier on a live radio programme, give the PDP opportunity to “right its wrongs”vowed by conducting a fresh primary that would give all contestants equal opportunity, otherwise he would pursue the matter to the apex court in the land.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.