A high court in Ekpoma, Edo state, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, others from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for Thursday, June 25.
The court ordered that the PDP and INEC must not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party.
It would be recalled that a federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, had restrained Obaseki from contesting the primary based on a suit filed by Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a PDP aspirant.
Ogbedie-Ihama had prayed the court to restrain Obaseki from contesting the primary election on grounds that he did not purchase the form within the time stated in the party’s time-table.
Read Also: Edo Election: Court Restrains Gov. Obaseki From Participating In PDP Primary
However in another suit brought before the high court in Edo, one Felix Irioh asked that Obaseki be allowed to contest the primary on the grounds that the PDP granted him a waiver.
In his ruling, the judge, J. O. Okeaya-Inneh, said;
I find in my humble view that the applicants have satisfied the guidelines for the grant of the orders sought as enjoined in the celebrated landmark case of Kotoye v CBN (1989), 1 NWLR PT. 98, 419 at 441.
The balance of convenience is in favour of the 1st and 2nd applicants and there is no undue delay in bringing this application. It is in that light that I find merit in this application.
The court adjourned the case to Wednesday June 24 for hearing.
Obaseki resigned from APC on June 16 and joined the PDP on June 19.
He was given a waiver and allowed to purchase the party’s governorship form and join the race for the party’s governorship ticket.
Read Also: Breaking: Edo Election: PDP Grants Obaseki, Deputy Waiver To Contest
Obaseki lost the APC governorship ticket to Osagie Ize-Iyamu following his long-standing faceoff with the party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole.
