A fresh suit has been filed at the Federal High Court Abuja, praying the court to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC), from contesting the Edo State gubernatorial election slated for September 19, 2020.
The suit was instituted by the Action Democratic Party (ADP), as Plaintiff and has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the candidate of the APC, Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and the All Progressives Congress as the Defendants.
The Plaintiff alleged that the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Audu Abdul Ganiyu, presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress who claims to be Audu Abdul Ganiyu, presented a Voters Card purporting to be his but bears the name of Audu Abdul Ganiyu.
The Deputy Governorship candidate also presented a WASSCE/GCE bearing the name of AUDU AHUDU GANEYU to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The Deputy Governorship candidate who claims to be AUDU ABUDU GANIYU also presented an APC Membership card bearing the name of AUDU GANI to INEC.
The Plaintiff has by the suit invited the Honourable Court to interprete the documents and declare amongst others, that the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress has presented forged certificates to INEC in total violation of Section 182(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
The Plaintiff also seeks an ORDER disqualifying Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and the All Progressives Congress from contesting the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election, slated for 19th September, 2020 as well as ORDER COMPELLING INEC to remove Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and All Progressives Congress from its list of nominated or sponsored candidates eligible to contest the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election, slated for 19th September, 2020 or any list, ballot paper or election records or materials.
It would be recalled that on the eve of the swearing-in of the Bayelsa Governor-elect and Deputy-Governor elect, the Supreme Court declared that the All Progressives Congress had no candidates in the election and the votes that enured to the APC and its candidates were wasted votes because the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC had presented forged certificates to INEC.
