A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 24 for definite hearing in a suit instituted against President Muhammadu Buhari by the Peoples Democtratic Party (PDP) on the controversial Section 84 (11) and (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the new date on Monday to enable Buhari and PDP address him on the effect of the Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja which declared the contentious section 84 (12) as unconstitutional, null and void.
The judge on his own, raised the issue on the ground that the PDP’s suit borders on the same section of the law in which a higher court had made pronouncement that would bind on lower court.
Joseph Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in response made spirited attempts to draw a distinction between the two matters and why the judge should proceed to hear the PDP’s suit.
However, Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN), disagreed with the PDP’s lawyer insisting that there was no difference between the Umuahia suit and that of PDP because the two are on the same section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act.
Following the disagreement, the judge held that all parties in matter shall address him on May 24 on whether to abide by the Court of Appeal decision or proceed with the one before him.
Section 84(12) of the Act reads: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
