Court shifts suit on Edo APC primary to Thursday

By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

The Court of Appeal Benin has adjourned further hearing in the suit filed by two allies of Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki against the direct mode adopted for the June 22 primary of the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the governorship race to Thursday.

The suit resumed on Tuesday despite the resignation of Governor Obaseki from the party after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Working Commmittee(NWC) of APC had earlier disqualifed the Governor from the race on the ground of “defective qualifications.”

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The Presiding Judge, Justice Morenike Ogunwomiju, who was accompanied by Justices Sam Oseji and Moore Adumein, adjourned till Thursday, further hearing in the suit.

APC NWC on May 21 declared the governorship primary election would be by direct mode while Obaseki’s allies are pushing for indirect mode.

The suit with reference number: CA/B/128/2020, has as appellants, the APC and its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo state.

The respondents are the factional Edo Deputy Chairman of APC, Kenneth Asekomhe; and one of the governorship aspirants on the party’s platform, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who were expelled from APC by the NWC over alleged anti-party activities last week as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).