A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed September 14 to hear a case filed by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike against the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the 2023 Presidential election.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed fixed the new date while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and Atiku Abubakar formally announced their appearance in the suit.
The defendants, PDP, Tambuwal and Atiku were represented by a lawyer, Priscilla Ejeh at Wednesday’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which is the 2nd defendant in the legal action was not represented in court.
PDP, Tambuwal, and Atiku jointly informed the court that they have filed a joint counter-affidavit seeking dismissal of the suit on various grounds.
However, contrary to wide expectations of withdrawal from the suit by Governor Wike, having publicly disowned the case, nothing of such happened from his counsel, Mr Wilfred Okoi, who announced an appearance for him and the first plaintiff.
The first plaintiff in the suit, Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon was personally in court with a retinue of his followers.