An Abuja Federal High Court Monday fixed April 23 for judgment in a suit challenging the nomination of Enugu Governor, Sullivan Chime as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Adamu Bello fixed the date after the parties adopted their consolidated written addresses in the suit.
A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Alexander C. Obiechina is asking the court to nullify the nomination of Chime. In the suit filed by his counsel, Oba Maduabuchi, the plaintiff wants the court to declare that the purported primaries held on January 12 which also purportedly produced Chime as the 2nd defendant (PDP) gubernatorial candidate did not comply with the Section 85 [1] of the electoral Act 2011.
The Section states that “A registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting concerned for the purpose of electing members of its executive committee, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices under this Act.”
Adopting his address, Chime’s counsel, A. J Offiah said the action was speculative and an academic as it discloses no cause of action against the defendant. Stating that the plaintiff lacked the locus-standi, Offiah added that the written address of the plaintiff against the Preliminary Objection of the governor is incompetent.
