A Kogi High Court sitting in Lokoja Friday, dismissed a preliminary objection in a suit filed by Hajiya Halimat Alfa, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for Kogi East Senatorial District was inconclusive.
Ruling on the preliminary objection filed by U.O. Sule, counsel to the 1st defendant in the main suit (Senator Attai Aidoko), Justice Sunday Otu, declared the suit competent in line with Section 879 of the Electoral Act, 2010.
According to him, the provision grants an aggrieved candidate in such an election unfettered access to the court, adding that the provision was clear and unambiguous. Barrister Sule had filed the preliminary objection on the grounds that Alfa failed to exhaust all internal mechanisms of the PDP to ventilate grievances in line with the party’s guidelines and constitution.
The party’s guidelines, he said, provide that complaints must be lodged with the appeal panel of the party within 24 hours after the election, contending that the court lacked competence to hear or determine the suit.
Meanwhile, Hajiya Halimat Alfa in an ex-parte motion sought interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant in the suit (Aidoko), his principals, agents, supporters or any other person from parading himself or be paraded as winner of the election.
