Hon. Justice Ekwo of Federal High Court 5, Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the names of Hon. Ogbeide Ihama, Pascal Ugbome, Chief Mike Onolememen, Patrick Giwa, Hon. Lucy Omagbon, Barrister Nosa Adams and others as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party for Edo State in 2023 general elections.
Justice Ekwo frowned at INEC for disobeying his earlier order to accept and recognize the PDP primary conducted by Chief Dan Orbih‘s faction for the purpose of electing candidates for next year’s election.
Hon. Ogbeide Ihama, Hon. Larry Ogieva, Hon. Lucy Omagbon, Patrick Giwa and others approached Hon. justice Ekwo of the federal high court 5, Abuja seeking an order for INEC to only recognize the Chief Dan Orbih led faction of the party primary conducted on 18the of May, 2022.
Justice Ekwo in the Suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/808/2022 had earlier issued an order directing INEC to only accept and recognize the candidates that emerged from the Dan Orbih faction primary, which was not complied with .
The judge frowned at the failure of the commission to obey his order, and threatened to wield the big stick if at the next hearing date it was not complied with.
INEC lawyer Abdul Sani (SAN) told the court that the commission had written to Dr. Iyiochia Ayu-led National Working Committee to forward the particulars of the candidates with whom an order was made for them to upload and display for claims and objections as provided for by the electoral act.
Sani also tendered before Justice Ekwo a letter written by the commission to the PDP national chairman demanding for the particulars of said candidates.
The Judge adjourned sitting till 7th July, 2022 for hearing of the case.
