A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, ruled on two applications filed by an aspirant for the chairmanship position in the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ogbadibo local government of Benue State, Hon. Iwodi Friday Adogo.
Iwodi had instituted a case against the APC, its State Chairman, Abba Yaro and the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Barr. John Ochoga, challenging his disqualification from participating in the party primaries scheduled to hold on 20th April, on the account of zoning.
The aspirant, through his lawyer, Tom Uja, filed the applications in a motion Ex-parte on 20th April, urging the court that the 2nd and 3rd defendants be served outside its jurisdiction, in Makurdi, Benue State.
In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the application and adjourned hearing till 27th April, to enable the respondents join issues in the matter.
The chairmanship contender had earlier filed an originating summon wherein, he is seeking for an order to declare the screening exercise conducted by the committee null and void, and also set aside the report of the Committee, “on the basis that zoning is alien to the All Progressive Congress, Benue State Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for Local Government Elections, 2017.
He annexed his brief with a 16 paragraph written affidavit and 7 exhibits, thereby seeking an interim injunction, restraining the first and second defendants from acting on the report submitted by the Ochoga-led screening committee, vis-Ã -vis, the primaries for Ogbadibo APC should be placed on hold, pending the determination of the substantive matters.
A total of four aspirants indicated interest in the chairmanship of Ogbadibo and participated in the screening exercise.
It was, however, reported that the certificate of clearance was only given to one aspirant to be returned as the candidate of the party.
In a joint press briefing at the state capital last week, the trio, Hon. Iwodi Friday Adogo, Hon. James Ediri Akor and Hon. Sunday Joseph, accused the State Chairman, Abba Yaro, of scuttling the party constitution/guidelines, by imposing an unpopular candidate, Simon Akola as party candidate.
