Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There is palpable anxiety in Bayelsa following news that the Federal High Court, sitting in Owerri, Imo State, is set to deliver ruling on the September 3 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary, today.
A governorship aspirant, Ndutimi Alaibe, had dragged the PDP Douye Diri, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Embeleakpo Alale for himself and representing the elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors of the PDP, to court over what he called ‘flawed process’ of the PDP primary.
The suit, filed pursuant to Order 3(9) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, seeks answers to questions bordering on obvious non-adherence to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2010, the PDP constitution and election guidelines by the state chapter of the party in the conduct of the ward congresses, inclusion of local government council officials in the delegates list and the procedure for inclusion of three ad-hoc delegates.
At the resumed hearing of the case following a request by Governor Diri for it to be moved to Owerri instead of Abuja, Ifedayo Adedipe, counsel to Alaibe, leading Donald Atogbo, Somina Johnbull and Michael Numa fought off attempts by the defence team to stall court proceedings.
Adedipe opposed the myriad applications for adjournments, arguing that it was an attempt to stall proceedings.
The court subsequently refused motions for adjournment on account of the constitutional time limit for the determination of the case and the reasons for the adjournment not being meritorious.
Thereafter, the court fixed today for judgment.