Lagos East by-election: Anxiety as court hears suit against Abiru
There is anxiety in the APC in Lagos as the Federal High Court in Lagos will today hear a suit seeking to disqualify Tokunbo Abiru, winner of last Saturday’s Lagos East senatorial by-election. The suit, filed by Babatunde Gbadamosi, the PDP candidate in the poll, sought to disqualify the APC for fielding “an ineligible candidate.” […]
There is anxiety in the APC in Lagos as the Federal High Court in Lagos will today hear a suit seeking to disqualify Tokunbo Abiru, winner of last Saturday’s Lagos East senatorial by-election.
The suit, filed by Babatunde Gbadamosi, the PDP candidate in the poll, sought to disqualify the APC for fielding “an ineligible candidate.”
Abiru had won the election with a landslide on Saturday with the APC rejoicing and describing the victory as endorsement of the popularity of the party.
Gbadamosi, who had prayed the court to disqualify Abiru on the grounds that he registered twice and possessed two voters cards, said the act was a violation of Section 31 of the Electoral Act.
Counsel representing PDP, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), had prayed the court for an order “nullifying, cancelling and voiding the nomination, submission and acceptance of the name of Abiru as the candidate of the APC for the by-election”.
Counsels representing APC’s candidate, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction and failure to meet the requirements of Section 285 (9) of the constitution.
The spokesman of the PDP candidate, Dr Pearse Adetokunbo, told Daily Trust yesterday that with all evidence they have, it would be very difficult for the APC candidate to escape.
The APC had dismissed the application filed by Gbadamosi.
In another development, a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, yesterday, ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, to prosecute Gbadamosi for alleged forgery and perjury.
The presiding judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, gave the order following a motion filed by the APC, Lagos State, asking the court to compel the IG to investigate and prosecute Gbadamosi.
Before the order was granted, counsel to the APC, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), told the court that he had filed a motion exparte, affidavit in support, statement in support, verifying affidavit and written address as part of conditions to grant his application.
In addition to these court processes, the counsel added that he had equally filed exhibits in support of the affidavit and further affidavit already filed before the court.