Melaye’s recall: Court consolidates APC suit

AFederal High Court in Abuja has joined the suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another before it, all opposing the recall of Senator Dino Melaye by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, yesterday, ruled that the outcome of the suit before him, will affect the one filed by the Kogi State APC No: FHC/ABJ/CS/601/2017, which was before Justice John Tsoho.

The application for consolidation, which was brought by lawyer to the Kogi State APC, D.O. Atoyebi, was not opposed by the parties in court.

Justice Dimgba also admitted five voters from Kogi West Senatorial District as co-plaintiffs in the suit. They are Mrs. Iyabose Owolabi, Afolabi Olafunke, Santa Grace Folake, Salihu Abdullahi and Michael Olowolaiyemo.

The judge also admitted Chief Olowo Cornelius, John Anjorin and Malam Yusuf Adamu as co-defendants in the suit.

He also approved the application by Melaye’s counsel, Nkem Okoro, amending the reliefs sought in the originating summons.

Nkem wanted the court to declare the INEC guidelines for the recall process as invalid, illegal and unconstitutional.

The judge, therefore, directed all the counsels in the matter to file and exchange their replies based on the new applications in the suit before the next adjourned date.

INEC had released guidelines for the recall of Melaye (APC, Kogi West), following the receipt of a petition purportedly signed by 188,000 voters in the constituency before a court injunction stalled the process.

The case has been adjourned to August 11 for hearing.