Hearing in Akeredolu, Abraham suit begins tomorrow
THE Federal High Court, Abuja will tomorrow commence the hearing in the suit by the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Dr. Segun Abraham against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
The incumbent governor was declared winner in the September 3 2016 governorship primary, which was supervised by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru.
However, Abraham is challenging the emergence of Akeredolu as the APC flag bearer for the 2016 governorship poll and urging the court to declare him winner of the primary.
The notice was served on concerned parties by the court presided over by Justice Nnamidi Dimgba in Abuja.
The commencement of the suit followed the verdict of the Supreme Court that Akeredolu’s appeal was without merit and could not stop the case from being heard at the High Court.
Abraham had approached the court to be declared the winner of the APC primary and subsequently sworn in to replace Akeredolu as governor.
According to observers, the 2016 primary remain a subject of litigation for almost two years, following the neglect of reconciliation by the party.
But recently, some party members in the camp of Abraham raised the alarm that plans are underway to either delay or truncate the case by resorting to technicalities.
The aggrieved members hinged their outcry on a plan to either challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case or blackmail the judge by requesting that the case be moved to another judge.
But, the Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya and Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Steve Otaloro, described the allegation as a fabrication.
The duo said Akeredolu cannot manipulate any judgment because the case favours him.
According to him, “They are crying wolf where there is none. They should have confidence in the judiciary. They should not be jittery.”
He added: “Akeredolu is an activist and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He upholds the rule of law. It is unfortunate that Nigerians are insulting our judiciary by coming up with this frivolous allegation. Whether they believe it or not our judiciary remains one of the best in the world.
He said the camp of Abraham is jittery. They know that their matter is only awaiting official nullification because it lacks substance.”
Meanwhile, some supporters of Abraham were hopeful that the case would turn out in their favour.
The matter is among the several lingering crises in the ruling APC across the nation, which the Bola Ahmed Tinubuled reconciliation committee tasked by President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to address.
However, Tinubu himself is said to be neck deep in the Akeredolu, Abraham face off as he (Tinubu) allegedly supported Abraham during the primary.
Observers are also waiting whether the leadership of the party will intervene in the matter or allowed the courts to pursue it to logical conclusion.