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Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
The Federal High Court, sitting in Birnin-Kebbi on Monday commenced hearing on the disputed Dandi/Arewa federal constituency primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State.
A member of the party, Umar Abdullahi Kamba, who contested for the APC House of Representatives primary election, had sued the party’s candidate, Hon. Hussein Kangiwa, APC and INEC over the alleged withdrawal of the ticket from him.
In suit number, FHC/KB/CS/7/2019, the plaintiff is asking the court to order INEC to recognise him as the party’s House of Representative candidate.
At the court sitting on Monday, counsel to the plaintiff, Illo, Katuni Sanusi (SAN) expressed concern over defence counsel’s dragging of the matter which he said was a pre-election issue. He argued that the court only had about a month to determine the case.
Sanusi informed the court that his client had filed the case since October 30, 2019, and the Electorate Act stipulates 180 days for such a case to be heard, stressing that he and his team were ready to proceed on the matter.
He urged the court not to entertain submission of further applications from the defence counsels, contending that it prolonged the matter unnecessarily.
Counsel to the first defendant, APC, Babatunde Ogala, had sought for an adjournment to enable him and other parties in the matter to file all the necessary applications and courter affidavits related to the case to enable the court to pronounce ruling on pending issues and continue hearing on the case.
Ogala dismissed the plaintiff counsel that defense counsels were dragging the matter with applications, and further maintaining that he was appearing before the court for the second time and it would be unfair from the plaintiff to have said they were dragging the matter.
He prayed the court to adjourn the case for a week to enable him to file all necessary documents and promised not to hold the court to ransom if granted a short adjournment.
In his ruling, Justice Bassey Onu adjourned the case till February 18, 2019, to enable all parties in the matter to file the necessary documents before the court for determination and further hearing.
