Obaseki free to join Edo PDP guber primary as Court strikes out Ogbeide-Ihama’s suit

The Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday gave Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki a clean bill to take part in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship primary elections scheduled for Thursday.

Justice Emmanuel Obile gave the order when he struck out the request for injunction against Obaseki’s participation in the exercise by a PDP member, Omoregie Ogbeide- Ihiama who is also an aspirant in the election.

National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Emmanuel Enoidem, told journalists in Port Harcourt of withdrawal of the suit by the plaintiff and its subsequent dismissal by the presiding judge.

He said there was now nothing stopping Governor Obaseki from contesting the party primary election tomorrow.

Obaseki’s legal representation, Alex Egesieme, also confirmed the development.

Ogbeide- Ihama had in a motion experte he filed before the court on June 22, in suit number PHC/CS/69/2020, sought an order of interim injunction to restrian Obaseki from participating in the elections.

Obaseki defected to the PDP last week after he was screened out by his All Progressives Congress(APC) over alleged irregularities in his certificates.

At the resumed sitting, counsel for the plaintiff, Ferdinad Orbih SAN, told the court that although they did comply with the order of substituted service of the originating summons to all the defendants, the process for amicable resolution of the issues was near conclusion.

READ ALSO: PDP will ensure fairness in Edo governorship primaries –Bauchi Gov

He had asked the court to step down the case for some hours to give them chance to seal the decision, adding that if the moves fail, they would return to continue with the business for the day.

The application received the supports of all the parties and the request was granted.

However before the matter was stood down, counsel for Obaseki, Alex Egesieme brought to the notice of the court the motions he had before him, for hearing.

According to him, they are, notice of preliminary objection dated and filed June 24, 2020, memo of conditional appearance of June 22, 2020, which was filed June 23, 2020, also before the court he said are application for injunction pending appeal dated June 23, and filed next day as well as notice of appeal dated June 23, 2020 and filed next day.

However when they returned before the court, Ogbeide- Ihama’s lead lawyer, Donald DeNwigwe SAN informed the court that the matter had been settled and applied for withdrawal of the suit.

The court granted the application and dismissed the case.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, shortly after the sitting, Enoidem disclosed that discussion that led to the peaceful resolution of the matter lasted all through Tuesday night into Wednesday’s morning before the plaintiff could agree to withdraw the matter.

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