The Federal High Court in Abuja has set 1 December for the decision in a lawsuit brought by Jimi Lawal, a disgruntled candidate for governor in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary in Ogun State.
Mr. Lawal is contesting Oladipupo Adebutu’s selection as the PDP’s nominee for governor of Ogun State following the primary election on May 25.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the judge, Inyang Ekwo, set the trial’s verdict date after hearing the parties’ attorneys’ closing statements on Thursday.
This happened a few days after the Supreme Court mandated that the trial court rehear the matter.
An earlier Federal High Court judge named Taiwo Taiwo had dismissed the matter (now retired).
At the Thursday rehearing of the case, Mr. Lawal sought the court to declare the primary election held on May 25 null and void and order a new one through the representation of Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Chris Uche (SAN), who attended on behalf of the PDP and Mr. Adebutu, requested that the court grant his preliminary objection and dismiss the case as meritless and frivolous.
Judge Mr. Ekwo deferred the case until 1 December for decision after hearing from the attorneys, including Bashir Abubakar, counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
An earlier Federal High Court judge named Taiwo Taiwo had dismissed the matter (now retired).
At the Thursday rehearing of the case, Mr. Lawal sought the court to declare the primary election held on May 25 null and void and order a new one through the representation of Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Chris Uche (SAN), who attended on behalf of the PDP and Mr. Adebutu, requested that the court grant his preliminary objection and dismiss the case as meritless and frivolous.
Judge Mr. Ekwo deferred the case until 1 December for decision after hearing from the attorneys, including Bashir Abubakar, counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Background
Mr. Lawal had sued the PDP, INEC, and Mr. Adebutu, who had won the PDP’s governorship primary election in Ogun State on May 25. The lawsuit was filed under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/773/22.
Mr. Lawal, a candidate vying for the party’s ticket in the state, filed his lawsuit to contest the selection of Mr. Adebutu as the party’s nominee for governor.
He said that the party held its election using an illegal delegate list.
Among other things, Mr. Lawal had petitioned for the cancellation of the alleged primary election scheduled for May 25 and the holding of a new one using the real ad hoc delegates.
According to NAN, the complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it by another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Taiwo Taiwo, who is since retired.
Mr. Taiwo held that the primary election was a domestic matter of any political party in his verdict, which was handed down on July 29.
Mr. Lawal appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeal in Abuja because he was dissatisfied.
In a decision handed down on September 30th, a three-member Court of Appeal panel sided with Mr. Lawal. The court overturned the Federal High Court’s decision and mandated that the case be reheard on the merits.
According to NAN, the complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it by another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Taiwo Taiwo, who is since retired.
Mr. Taiwo held that the primary election was a domestic matter of any political party in his verdict, which was handed down on July 29.
Mr. Lawal appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeal in Abuja because he was dissatisfied.
In a decision handed down on September 30th, a three-member Court of Appeal panel sided with Mr. Lawal. The court overturned the Federal High Court’s decision and mandated that the case be reheard on the merits.
