Suit challenging Ize-Iyamu’s party membership suffers setback

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The suit challenging the membership of All Progressives Congress (APC) as an aspirant in the party’s Governorship primaries on Wednesday adjourned, following the failure of the defendant to file his response to motion on notice.
But, Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje, the presiding judge however gave the defendants 24 hours to file their response before he adjourned hearing until June 19, 2020.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to the first and second defendants Victor Ohiosumua told newsmen that they were supposed to take their first and second preliminary objections and then take the originating summons itself together.
‘But unfortunately, as we were moving for the first and second preliminary objections, we were just served today by the Clerk and the rules of court is very clear on the subject that we need time to file our response; because of that the case could not go on today,’ he explained.
The court had earlier refused to grant an ex parte application seeking to restrain the APC from recognising Osagie Ize-Iyamu as an aspirant in the party’s governorship primary election which has been scheduled to hold Monday, June 22.
The suit instituted in the court by Kenneth Asekomhe, the State factional deputy chairman of the party, Benjamin Oghumu, Mathew Ogbebor and Unweni Nosa, is challenging the membership waiver granted to Ize-Iyamu.
But the defendants in the suit – APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu – are saying the court has no jurisdiction to meddle in the internal affairs of the party.