Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was sued by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and another PDP member, Michael Ekamon. Yesterday, the hearing on the lawsuit was halted by Wilfred Okoi, the plaintiffs’ attorney.
In their lawsuit, Wike and Ekamon aim to have Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the year 2023 revoked, among other things.
When the case was brought up yesterday, Ekamon informed the court that Okoi, who had been there when the proceedings began, had unexpectedly become ill and had to leave the building.
When the case was called, Okoi, who had put his name on the cause list, was absent, so Justice Ahmed Mohammed asked Ekamon, who was present in court, where his counsel was.
Okoi had previously been in court, according to Ekamon, but she later complained of a severe stomach ache and had to leave the room right away to get help.
I insisted that Okoi stay, but the first complainant in the case, Ekamon, stated: “He said we should rush him down.”
The attorney responded, “I pray the court to give us a little time so that he (the plaintiffs’ counsel) may get well and proceed with the lawsuit,” when asked what he wanted the court to do in the situation.
Adeyemii Ajibade (SAN), the attorney representing the PDP and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, did not object to the motion for an adjournment.
The PDP’s national legal adviser, Ajibade, declared: “I have heard the first plaintiff’s request. His absence is due to something that might be considered ill health.
“There is no need to go verify. Anyone can experience it, as my lord has stated. However, because this is an election-related concern, we want the court to pay attention.
Justice Mohammed wished Okoi a speedy recovery and pointed out that everyone who is a human can get sick at any time.
He postponed the hearing until October 7.
The plaintiffs requested that the court declare
The plaintiffs, who prayed the court to declare Wike the PDP presidential candidate, have faulted the process that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate.
In their counter-affidavit, the PDP and other defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds it lacks merit.
They argued, among others, that Ekamon has no right known to law to file such a case.
