By Olalekan Awojodu with Agency Reports
74 Political Parties led The Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD), Alliance Of Social Democrats (ASD), Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Save Nigeria Congress (SNC) have challenged The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) before a Federal High Court, Asaba over their exclusion in the March 6, 2021 local government election in Delta State.
In an originating summons with suit case file No FHC/ASB/CS/4/21, filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta, by Kelechi Nnadi, counsel for the political parties, supported with affidavit deposed to by Lucky Dikadi, the state chairman of Change Advocacy Party (CAP) prayed the court for an injunction to compel the INEC and DSIEC (Ist and 2nd defendants) to cancel all primaries conducted in the state until their parties are included in the ballot.
Among other prayers, the 74 political parties who are plaintiffs in the case are seeking the court to determine, among other things “whether in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja judicial division dated, 10 August, 2020 in Appeal No CA/ABJ/CV/507/2020, setting aside the deregistration of the plaintiffs and ordering the relisting of the plaintiffs, among others in the register of the political parties, the defendants can lawfully preclude the plaintiffs and their candidates from participating in the Delta State local government elections.
“Whether having regard to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No CA/ABJ/CV/507/2020, the Ist defendant is not obligated to relist the plaintiffs in the register of political parties in Nigeria to enable the plaintiffs exercise their powers under section 221 and 229 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
While making his submission, counsel for the political parties, Kelechi Nnadi, told the court that he only got an application late Wednesday from E. F. James-Oru, counsel for DSIEC, 2nd defendant, and needed time to study and respond.
He then pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter.
Meanwhile, after listening to the plaintiffs’ counsel, the presiding judge, Justice T. B. Adegoke has adjourned the case till February 15, 2021 for hearing.
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