Court fixes October 8 for judgement in Benue APC candidates’ suit
The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Thursday fixed October 8 for judgement in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel adopted their final written addresses.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Mohammed Ndarani-Mohammed, SAN after withdrawing some interlocutory applications, prayed the court to grant his clients’ prayers.
Counsel for the first defendant, Mathew Burkaa, SAN told the court that he had filed a motion on notice seeking dismissal or striking out of the plaintiff’s motion.
Mr Burkaa urged the court to dismiss the suit because it was filed in a representative capacity adding that the plaintiffs did not contest in the election.
The counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the second defendant, Oluwole Olukunle prayed the court to do justice as the circumstances of the case warranted.
Earlier, when the matter was called, Mr Burkaa told the court that he had a harmless housekeeping application to make.
He said he was seeking the leave of the court to file a further counter affidavit to the originating summons.
He urged the court to grant his application as prayed.
Mr Ndarani-Mohammed opposed the application saying it was strange and unknown to law.
The judge, however, granted the application.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, was filed by Sesugh Kaaba and other aggrieved APC candidates against the party and INEC.
They are challenging their substitution as validly nominated candidates for the 2027 general election.
The plaintiffs, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, sought six interim reliefs.
They sought an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates through a June 29 correspondence to INEC, or any subsequent communication, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the commission.
(NAN)
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