A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday has fixed February 25, 2019, to hear the suit seeking to disqualify the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike from contesting the governorship election in the state over allegedly submitting a forged birth certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his clearance.
The plaintiff, Elvis Chinda, in a suit marked FHC /ABJ / CS /1430/3018 , filed on November 26, 2018, had asked the court to grant the order.
Chinda insisted that except an order is made to disqualify Governor Wike from contesting the election scheduled for March 2, 2019, INEC who is the 1st defendant will not be in a position to enforce the violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) committed by the governor.
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The Presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo had last week adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit to February 12, after the plaintiff counsel Achinike William- Wobodo informed the court that INEC who filed some processes was not represented in court.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff informed the court of a new motion served on him challenging the validity of the suit.
Meanwhile the lawyer to the governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Osima Ginah urged the court to hear his preliminary objection challenging the suit due to the urgency of the matter.
But the plaintiff’s counsel opposed the submissions on the ground that the motion was not ripe for hearing.
Mr Ginah, however, insisted that the suit lacks substance.
