Edo 2020: Court orders pasting of suit against Ize-Iyamu at APC’s Headquarters

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, ordered the National Rescue Mission (NRM) to paste the court processes against Pastor Ize-Iyamu and running mate at the party’s No 40 National Headquarters located at No 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
The suit is seeking to disqualify the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his running mate Audu Ganiyu in the September 19, governorship election in Edo State
The court gave the order in an ex parte application for substituted service filed by National Rescue Movement Party.
The part, through its counsel, Valatine Offia, is seeking the exclusion of the APC and its candidate in the forthcoming governorship poll on alleged unlawful nomination.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/743/2020 and filed on August 6, 2020, the plaintiffs claimed that the letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) containing the names of Ize-iyamu and his deputy was signed by the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC instead of the party’s National Chairman and Secretary.
Defendants in the suit are the All Progressives Congress, Independent National Electoral Commission, Osagie Ize-iyamu and Audu Ganiyu as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.
The APC’s National Executive Committee had on June 25, dissolved the Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) and appointed a Caretaker Committee headed by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
At last week’s sitting, the plaintiff had accused Ize-iyamu and his deputy, Honourable Audu Ganiyu of evading service and prayed court to order service on them through the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed, in his ruling ordered that the originating processes and hearing notice be served on them through the APC headquarters in Abuja.
“Having listened to the applicant counsel and carefully looked at the ten paragraphs affidavit, and an exhibit attached to the application, I am satisfied that the prayer should be granted and hereby grant the prayers”, the judge held.
The matter is adjourned still August 18 for further mention.
The plaintiff, (NRM) in the suit claimed that the list of candidates of the APC for the Edo State gubernatorial election jointly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the APC was not received by INEC and as such INEC lacks powers to receive the list of candidates of APC for the Edo State gubernatorial election to be held on September 19, 2020 from the Governor of Yobe State.
The plaintiff urged the court to declare that the APC has no candidates for the Edo State gubernatorial election to beheld on September 19, 2020 by virtue of the non – submission of her list of candidates before the deadline on June 29, 2020.
The party therefore prayed for an order voiding the decision of INEC to include APC, Ize-Iyamu and Ganiyu as candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.