Don't turn court to playground, Judge warns PDP, APC, LP

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APC, PDP logo

Jethro Ibileke/Asaba

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Justice Olatunregun Ishola of Federal High Court, sitting in Asaba, Delta state, has warned political parties not to turn court rooms to playground.

Justice Ishola gave the warning while delivering judgement in a suit seeking to nullify eligibility of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Accord Party (AC) and Labour Party (LP) to contest the 11 April, 2015 governorship election in the state.

The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has approached the court, asking it to declare candidates of the three political parties unqualified to contest the governorship election.

In the suit with No. FHC/ASB/CS/28,29,30/2015, the PDP had asked the court to disqualify candidates of the three political parties on the grounds that their parties violated sections 85(1) of the Electoral Acts, 2010 (as amended) which provides that: “Every registered political party shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this act.”

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According to the plaintiff, APC, Accord Party and Labour Party breached this constitutional provision, having held their primaries less than 21 days after the notices they gave to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the holding of their primaries to choose candidates for the 2015 election.

Delivering judgement, Justice Olatunregun Ishola, ruled that even though the case “has merits, it is an inter-party issue and a post-election matter which can be resolved at the Election Petition Tribunal,” adding that “the plaintiffs did not show sufficient evidence to prove that their rights have been injured by the defendants in the matter.”

She subsequently struck out the matter and warned the parties not to use the court as “a play ground,” and thereafter referred all parties concerned to take their case to the state Election Petition Tribunal for hearing.

Counsel to PDP, Akinnolu Timothy Kehinde (SAN), said the judgment of the Court would be studied and a position will be taken by his clients.

“As a Senior Counsel and a lawyer, I am bound by the decision of the court. We will take the next step when we get to that bridge.”

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