By Elempe Dele
Chief Hilary Otsu, Secretary, Edo State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and secretaries of PDP in several Local Government Areas, has filed a suit in the High Court of Edo State in the Benin Judicial Division holden in Benin City with intention of stopping the proposed council elections to be held in September, 2023.
The defendants include the State Chairman of PDP; Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the Party itself and as well as the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission.
The Claimants claim against the above defendants jointly and severally include; that PDP held the primaries without the express approval by the National Executive Committee of the Party. Hence the conduct was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect. Secondly, candidates of PDP are also illegal, unconstitutional and invalid, as well as their primaries are null and void. Thirdly, that the state electoral body should be restrained perpectually from acting or recognizing any list of candidates from the purported illegal and unconstitutional primaries submitted by PDP.
The writ of summons is to be served within six calender months from the date of the last renewal, including the day of such date, and not afterwards.
The defendants are either to appear in person or through their councels, failure to do so, judgement will be held in their absence.