Two governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Engr. Barnabas Gemade and Prof Terhemba Shija, have dragged the party before a Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi.
In the suit, the two aspirants are challenging the conduct of the APC governorship primary election that returned Revd Fr. Hyacinth Alia as the party’s candidate in the state ahead of next year’s general election.
Joined in the suit are Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 2nd and 3rd defendants.
In an originating summon filed before the court, the plaintiffs prayed the court to hold that no primary election of any sort was conducted by APC in which Alia was nominated as the party’s standard flag bearer. They also p[rayed the court to order a fresh primary election.
At the commencement of hearing, lead Counsel for Prof. Shija, Barr S. I. Ikoni brought an ex parte application for substituted service on the 2nd defendant (Alia), pointing out that efforts to effect service on him by the court bailiff had failed.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Dogo granted the motion for substituted service on Fr Alia and adjourned the case to 12th September, 2022.
Engr. Barnabas Gemade, who was represented by his Counsel, M. Ozue, informed the court that all the defendants in the suit had served and applied for a hearing date of the substantive case.
Justice Abdul Dogo, accordingly, adjourned the case for hearing of the matter to the 28th of this month.
It would be recalled that Engr. Barnabas Gemade, during the APC panel sitting in Makurdi, had raised objection to the conduct of direct primaries to produce a governorship candidate, citing a sudden change from indirect to direct mode of primary overnight.
“Well, mine was to advice the panel and indeed, the party. The electoral laws are not made to be looked at but to be read inside all clauses.”
