A federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, from participating in the PDP governorship primary election scheduled for Thursday, June 25.
The suit was instituted by an aspirant in the election and House f Representatives member, Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
He is asking the court to stop Obaseki from participating in the exercise because the governor did not obtain the PDP nomination form nor did he undergo screening within the time specified in the party’s time-table.
Obaseki decamped to the party from the APC only last Friday and was screened on Saturday, the following day by the PDP Screening Committee.
This special consideration rankled Ogbeide-Ihama who had been favoured to emerge as the party’s candidate on the basis of his months of preparation and exertion involving energy, time and huge resources.
After hearing Ogbeide-Ihama’s lawyers D.C. Denwigwe (SAN), Ferdinard Orbih (SAN) and O.O. Okonkwo, Esq, the court granted the prayer for accelerated hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory injuction and fixed June 24, the eve of the governorship primary election, for hearing it.
The fate of Obaseki is thus hanging in the balance on account of this sudden twist.
The court, presided over by Justice E.A. Obile, consequent upon hearing the motion ex-parte dated and filed on June 22, 2020, ordered that the status quo be maintained until the matter (motion on notice) is heard .
In essence, the import of the order is that INEC, PDP, and others must not recognise Obaseki as an aspirant until determination of the suit.
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