A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt will on October 31, 2022 continue with adoption of written address by counsel to the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Tuduru Edeh SAN, in a suit filed by the People’s Democratic Party against APC and its governorship candidate, Patrick Tonye-Cole and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The PDP is asking INEC to disqualify Tonye-Cole of the APC, claiming that the delegates that voted at the primary election that brought in the candidate were not democratically elected.
When the matter commenced on Wednesday, counsel to APC, raised a preliminary objection on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.
He further argued and adopted his motion while counsel to the PDP, Emmanuel Ukala SAN raised what the court described as “unreported case” which needed a response from the defendants.
Edeh thereafter asked the court for a date to enable him reply to the “unreported case” by the plaintiff which was granted by the presiding judge, Justice E. A Obile.
The judge thereafter adjourned till 31st of October, 2022 for continuation of adoption of a written address by the defense counsel.
Justice Obile also adjourned till 25th of October, 2022 for adoption of addresses in two separate suits filed by the APC against the PDP’s governorship candidate, Siminalaye Fubara and all the state and National Assembly candidates.
The judge gave the adjustment after counsel to INEC, Ledum Mitee moved a motion for extension time to file and serve memorandum of appearance, counter affidavit and written addresses to the plaintiff which was not objected to by counsels to the plaintiff and second defendant
