The All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidates, in the Edo State governorship election, Osagie Ize Iyamu and his running mate, Gani Audu, may be in for more troubles, as the National Rescue Movement, NRM, led by Stevie Nash Ozono, has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking for the disqualification of APC and its governorship candidates in the September 19 Edo gubernatorial elections.
The plaintiffs also prayed the court to nullify the participation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidates, Ize Iyamu and Audu, where the said election had already been conducted.
In its originating summons, the plaintiffs claimed that the APC letter dated 29th June 2020, conveying the names of Osagie Ize Iyamu and Gani Audu, to INEC as signed by the National Secretary and Chairman of the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Committee, John Akpan Udoedeghe and Mai Mala Buni was in error.
Citing section 153 of the Electoral Act and guidelines for the submission of nomination forms of candidates issued by INEC, the plaintiffs argued that both Udoedeghe and Mala Buni were not the right people to sign the APC letter conveying the names of the candidates to INEC.
In its submission to the Federal High Court, Abuja, dated 8 of July 2020, sited by Signaturetv.org, the National Rescue Movement and Nash Ozono alleged that John Akpan Udoedeghe was not qualified to sign the letter as according to them, he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The plaintiffs also cited sections 183, 222a, and 223 of the 1999 constitution as amended, querying the rationale behind the acceptance of the nomination of the APC candidates by INEC, and prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja to disqualify APC and its candidates for the Edo governorship election.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.