…adjourns till June 17

The Federal High Court in Benin City has sustained the order restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC), its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others from conducting any mode of primary election in Edo State.

The presiding judge, Hon. Justice G. M. Umar, adjourned the matter till June 17, 2020 to rule on the suit filed by Kenneth O. Asekomhe and Hon. Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen.

The APC, Comrade Oshiomhole, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) are defendants in the suit, which is seeking to restrain them from proceeding with the direct mode of primary election to select a candidate to fly the APC’s flag in the September gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, an appeal had been filed against the restraining order, which is fixed for determination on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.

Justice Umar, in his earlier ruling on the matter, had ordered: “That all parties to this suit and their privies are hereby ordered not to do anything or proceed with any action relating to or concerning the procedure to be adopted or used by the 1st defendant to conduct or hold the 1st defendant primary election coming up next as scheduled pending the hearing and determination of this suit; that all applications in this suit and the response of parties shall be heard alongside the Originating Summons.