By Joseph A. Adudu
Hearing in a suit between Hon. Ishaya Itse, five others (claimants) and the All Progressive Congress APC and eight others (Defenders) has been adjourned until December 01, 2021. Justice I. Kunda of High Court 5 Jos on Friday granted the application for the adjournment made by GS Pwul SAN, (Counsel for the defence) having not been opposed by N.D Gwaison Esq (Counsel for the Claimants), to enable the defence reply to the process in line with section 43 of the rules of the Court.
African Drum reports that Hon. Itse and five others are challenging the APC state Congress conducted in Plateau on October 16, 2021 alleging that the exercise did not meet the provisions of section 223(1)(a) and (2) (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended); and Articles 13.6(ii) and 20 of the APC constitution. The Claimants are seeking among other reliefs, a declaration that having regard to the fact that since they withheld their consent and or refused to step down for the 3rd to 8th Defendants in the said Congress, the Defenders didn’t pass for consensus candidates and cannot be described as such.
Therefore, the claimants held that the emergence of the 3rd to 8th Defendants as Plateau State Executive Committee Members of the APC was not through democratic means and on that basis, they cannot lawfully and legally serve as the Executive Committee (EXCO) Members of Plateau State Chapter of the APC for a period of four years or any other period.
Consequently, the Claimants are seeking for an Order setting aside the emergence of the 3rd to 8th Defendants and others who emerged as Plateau State EXCO on October 16, 2021; an Order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants from parading and holding out themselves as Plateau State EXCO of the APC; an Order restraining the APC from recognizing and or dealing with the 3rd to 8th Defendants as its State EXCO members and an Order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC (which is the 9th Defendant) from recognizing and dealing with the 3rd to 9th Defendants as Plateau State EXCO members of the APC.
The Claimants are also asking for the sum of Five Million Naira as general damages against the 3rd to 8th Defendants.
Nigeria Star News 