Court restrains APC from submitting Delta candidates list to INEC
A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, the Delta State Capital has restrained the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from submitting the list of party candidates from Delta State for the 2019 elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a ruling by Justice Toyin Adegoke, all parties to […]
Court restrains APC from submitting Delta candidates list to INEC
A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, the Delta State Capital has restrained the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from submitting the list of party candidates from Delta State for the 2019 elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a ruling by Justice Toyin Adegoke, all parties to the suit were ordered to maintain status quo and desist from submitting any list of candidates to INEC till the substantive suit is heard
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is 1st respondent in the suit, National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole was joined as second respondent, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Prophet Jones Erue as the 3rd and 4th respondents respectively,
The Chief Cyril Ogodo led Delta APC State Working Committee (SWC) and others had instituted an interlocutory injunction restraining APC, Adams Oshiomhole from submitting the list of candidates from Prophet Jones Erue faction to INEC.
In her ruling, Justice Adegoke said “this matter shall be given an accelerated hearing owing to fact that it is a pre election matter. All defendants are to take note of the tendencies of this suit.
“Parties shall maintain status quo as at today, the 17th day of November 2018. That is the order of this court.” Adegoke ruled.
Counsel to the Applicants, Barr. O.J. Oghenejakpor said that the implication is that, “as at today, no list of candidates can be submitted to INEC and none will be submitted until we hear this case.
By the ruling, the court has technically granted an injunction restraining the APC from nominating any candidates from Delta State for the 2019 election.
With this development, Delta APC akin to Imo and Rivers, will have to await the substantive trial which is now fixed for 1st and 2nd November, 2018 before the party candidates in Delta State could be determined.
The Court also granted that an accelerated hearing would be given to the case, while two days would be allowed to call in witnesses in lieu of the expedient nature of the matter.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the 1st and 2nd respondents, Barr. George Onaho who had challenged the jurisdiction of the court, said the court has done the needful and in the view of the court, the objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court has to wait and be adopted together with a final written address after the substantive suit must have been heard.