Kogi APC Gov Candidate Faces Eligibility Suit
A Federal High Court in Abuja has agreed to hear a suit seeking among others, the disqualification of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Usman Ododo in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State.
Justice Obiora Eguatu on Tuesday, fixed a hearing for June 14 in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/584/2023, filed by Abubakar Achimugu, an aggrieved governorship aspirant of the APC.
Justice Eguatu also ordered a hearing notice on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in view of its absence in court on Tuesday.
Achimugu is contending that Ododo is not qualified to fly the flag of the APC in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll, having failed to resign his employment with the Kogi State public service before contesting the governorship primary, which he won.
According to Achimugu, whose suit was filed by his lawyer, Josiah Daniel-Ebune, Ododo breached Section 182 of the Constitution, Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Article 7 of the APC’s Constitution in participating in the April 14 governorship primary of the APC.
Achimugu argued that Ododo’s failure to resign his appointment with the Kogi State Government, 30 days before the primary, made him ineligible for the November 11, guber poll.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the APC, Ododo, the deputy governorship candidate, Salami Momodu Deedat and INEC.
The plaintiff wants the court to amongst others, declare that the 2nd and 3rd defendants are not qualified or eligible to have participated in the primary election being persons both employed in public service of Kogi State, they failed and neglected to resign, withdraw or retire from employment at least 30 days to April 14, 2023 when the primary election was conducted.
He also seeks a declaration that Ododo “is not eligible or qualified to contest for the office of Kogi State Governor, in the November 11, poll, being a person employed in the public service of Kogi State and failed to resign 30 days to the primary election.
Achimugu wants the court to make an order nullifying and setting aside the screening and participation of the second and third defendants in the April 14, gubernatorial primary election for the nomination of the candidate of APC, having been in breach of Section 182 of the Constitution and Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022, Article 7 of the APC Constitution.
He also wants the court to make an order disqualifying Ododo from contesting the office of Kogi State governor on November 11, 2023.
