Abiru Removal: Court Fixes Date For Delivery Of Judgement On Lagos East Election

Tokunbo Abiru

The Federal High Court, Lagos, has set March 1 to give verdict in a suit on Lagos East Senatorial bye-election held on December 5, 2020, which was won by APC candidate, Tokunbo Abiru.

Eko Hot Blog gathered that the presiding judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, fixed the date following the adoption of processes and conclusion of arguments of the counsels to all parties.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi, had filed a suit against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (the winner) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) to court.

They prayed the court to quash the decision of the electoral body on the grounds of alleged double voter registration, violation of section 31 of the Electoral Act, among others.

In the suit filed by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), the PDP wants the court to compel INEC to expunge Abiru and APC from the list of participants in the bye-election.

It is also asking for an order nullifying, cancelling and voiding the nomination, submission and acceptance of Abiru’s name as APC’s candidate and an order disqualifying him as a candidate in the election.

INEC, Abiru and the APC argued that the case of the plaintiffs can’t be substantiated as the candidate was duly nominated and qualified.

Abiru and APC, through their counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) raised preliminary objections to the suit, contending that the same was statute-barred and not justiciable in law.

The Judge adjourned the case until March 1 to deliver judgment.