Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to file his defence to the charges being pressed against him and All Progressives Congress (APC) by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim over the purported April 20, governorship primary of the party.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present it’s defence against the primary ahead of the the Nov. 16 governirship election in the state.
Ibrahim had approached the court praying that the purported governorship primary of the party in which Aiyedatiwa was declared winner be declared null and void.
The Senator has presented the written addresses of all the Electoral Officers sent to the 203 wards across the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State by INEC to monitor the party’s governorship primary.
The reports of the INEC Electoral Officers had shown that election did not hold in more than 70 percent of the wards including the ward of the Aiyedatiwa who was declared winner of the primary election by the Governor Usman Ododo-led APC Governorship Primary Election Committee.
Aiyedatiwa is yet to file his response to the claims of applicant.
After issuing the order, Justice Ekwo fixed May 29 for hearing of the suit with a warning that all processes in respect of the suit must be filed and exchanged by parties.
