Federal High court sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday reserved judgement till the 7th of December 2022 on the suit filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state against the National Electoral Commission (INEC,) Accord and it’s State Assembly candidates for alleged non compliance with the new electoral act while conducting their primaries.
When the case was mentioned, counsel to Accord, Abdulameed Muhammed in his argument to adopt his written address said the plaintiff PDP are meddlesome interloper noting that the plaintiffs were interfering in an internal party affairs.
While Counsel to 3rd to 27th defendants, Abiodun Owonikoko)SAN) said some of the defendants sued by the plaintiff were not candidates of the party.
In his defence, counsel to PDP, Emmanuel Ukala argued for the adoptions of the prayers of counsel to the defendants and asked the court to adopt them.
Counsel to INEC, Mohammed Bawa said INEC monitored the 2nd defendant primary election saying the primaries was by consensus which means and those candidates who conducted the primaries were in the same list sent to the commission.
Justice Ayuwah Phoebe after listening to the adoption by he counsels, reserved judgement on the matter on 7th of December 2022.
Relatively, Justice Daylop-Pam of the Federal high court 4 sitting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday adjourned to November 14th for definite hearing on the case brought by Peoples Democratic Party against Accord and it’s National Assembly candidates.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Abdulameed Mohammed (SAN) counsel to Accord said “what actually happened, two matters came up today, the two bothered on Primary elections of Accord for State and National Assembly. Now the first matter came up at Federal high court presided over by Justice Ayuwah Phoebe and we were able to conduct the hearing today and the judgement was reserved to 7th December,2022 for judgement.
“All other processes were adopted and all parties were heard on it.We had our preliminary objection against the suit and counter affidavit and the processes were adopted.So we are expecting judgement on that day.
“On the suit brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Accord and it’s National Assembly candidates before Justice Daylop-Pam Abdulameed Mohammed said “they amended their originating summons which we have to file consequential amendment which we did and served them so the matter is now adjourned for definite hearing and subsequently we adopted the processes and we take a date for judgement”.
In the meantime, the Governorship candidate of Accord, Chief Dumo Lulu Briggs who was in court berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for meddling into other parties, affair.
Chief Lulu Briggs said the action of PDP was targeted at ensuring they do not contest against any opponents in the 2023 general elections.
Chief Lulu Briggs stated that Accord and it’s candidates are not distracted and are very prepared to *contest* in the general elections.
