Court Adjourns hearing on suit challenging the election of Idris Wada as Kogi Governor

A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has adjourned suits filed by two governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state against the emergence of Idris Wada as the party’s candidate. The hearing will take place on March 20.

The judge also consolidated the two suits with similar injunctive relieves.

Justice Donatus Okorowa, while consolidating the suits also abridged the time for parties to exchange their preliminary objections ahead of the next adjourned date.

Messrs Oyebode Makinde and Jibrin Isah are challenging the PDP primary elections of January and September 2011.

Mr. Isah won the primaries held in January, but was replaced by Idris Wada in fresh primaries held on 22nd September.

Mr. Makinde had approached the court asking it to stop Mr. Wada from parading himself as the governor of Kogi state because according to a submission by his lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), with regards to the provision of section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), INEC was bound to proceed to conduct fresh elections for the Kogi State gubernatorial seat.

Mr.Makinde is also asking the court for an order of injunction restraining INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) or their agents from giving effect to the directive or order of January 12, 2012 or doing anything in like manner.

The order of January 12 in this instance is the directive issued by INEC that Mr. Wada be sworn in as governor of Kogi state based on the election held on 3rd December, 2011.

Mr. Isah was the winner of the primary election of the PDP held in January 2011 and had approached the Federal High court asking it to set aside the election of December, 3rd 2011 that brought in Mr. Wada as governor claiming that it is unconstitutional, null and void.

His counsel, Wole Olanipekun SAN, sued the INEC, Mr. Wada and the AGF as first, second and third defendants in the suit that was consolidated with Mr. Makinde’s today.

Like Mr. Makinde, Mr. Isah is also asking for a declaration that INEC’s directive on the swearing in of Wada be set aside.