An Edo State High Court sitting in Ekpoma, on Tuesday, restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and others from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki from Thursday’sprimary election in the state.
The court restrained the defendants from removing, preventing or purporting to exclude Obaseki or any other aspirant already cleared by the PDP from participating in the governorship primary scheduled for June 25, 2020.
The defendants in the case are Tony Aziegbemi, Peoples Democratic Party, Hon Andy Ikhajiangbe, Peter Akhimien and INEC.
The plaintiffs, Felix Irioh and Tom Irehobhude, had filed a suit before the court, seeking an Order of Interim Injunction restraining INEC from however refusing to recognise and/or accept the name of any of the aspirants name above, especially Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki as lawful aspirants, having been lawfully screened and cleared by the second defendant to participate in the primary election scheduled to hold on the 25th June, 2020 in any report of the monitoring of the said primaries, pending the hearing of the Motion On Notice.”
In his ruling, Justice J. O. Okeaya-Inneh said, ” I find in my humble view that the applicants have satisfied the guidelines for the grant of the orders sought as enjoined in the celebrated landmark case of Kotoye v CBN (1989), 1 NWLR PT. 98, 419 at 441.”
“The balance of convenience is in favour of the 1st and 2nd applicants and there is no undue delay in bringing this application. It is in that light that I find merit in this application.” The judge adjourned the matter to July 1, 2020, for hearing of pending applications.