Just In : Court Takes Decision On Fresh Suit Seeking To Stop Gov Diri’s Governorship Bid (DETAILS)
Less than nine days before the Bayelsa governorship election, a new lawsuit has been initiated at the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, seeking the disqualification of Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The suit, which is currently before Justice Emeka Nwite, requests a mandatory injunction instructing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the names of Diri and Ewhrudjakpo as PDP’s candidates in the November 11 poll.
Additionally, it seeks a perpetual injunction preventing INEC, its agents, or any other parties from further publishing their names as standard-bearers for the party in the upcoming Bayelsa election.
Filed by a Bayelsan woman, Blessing Clement Azibanagbal, through her lawyer, Ifeanyi Nsowu, the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1448/23, also seeks a declaration that Ewhrudjakpo is not qualified to run as deputy governor under the PDP. Azibanagbal further contends that Ewhrudjakpo is not eligible to be a running mate with Diri.
Moreover, she asserts that Ewhrudjakpo possesses multiple names without sufficient evidence to prove that he is the same person. Consequently, she urges the court to declare that the PDP has no candidate in the poll.
The suit, which is brought under Rule 3, Order 9 of the FHC Civil Procedure Rules, 2019, seeks “a declaration that the 3rd defendant (PDP) does not have any qualified candidate to run for the governorship election in Bayelsa.”
The parties involved in the case include Gov. Diri, Ewhrudjakpo, PDP, and INEC, who are the 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.
Azibanagbal presents five key issues for determination, including whether a first school leaving certificate holder can legally run for the governorship election of a state in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
“Whether the failure of the 1st (Diri); and 3rd defendants (PDP) to provide a candidate that has the qualification to run for the governorship of a state can be grounds to disqualify both candidates.
“Whether a candidate with multiple names without any evidence to substantiate the names can contest for governorship election in a state.
“Whether the 2nd defendant (Ewhrudjakpo), submitting only his first school leaving certificate in his Form EC9 submitted with INEC qualifies him to contest election as deputy governor of Bayelsa State.
“Considering issues 1 to 4 above, whether this honourable ¢court has jurisdiction to order the 4th defendant to remove the names of 1st and 2nd defendants as candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State,” it read.
Subsequently, the Judge adjourned the matter until November 30 for hearing.
