A High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State has restrained Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from participating in the party’s governorship primary election scheduled for April 14, 2023. The order was granted by Justice A.S Ibrahim following an application by Imaji Danladi and Amoka Suberu.
The applicants requested that the court should restrain Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, who is also a governorship aspirant and the first defendant in the case, from participating in the APC primary election in the state. The court granted the order, thereby preventing Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka from participating in the primary election.
Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka had been in the news due to his controversial suspension by executives of the party in Ajaka ward of Ofu local government area of Kogi state. This led to uncertainty surrounding his eligibility to participate in the APC primary election in the state. The court’s decision has now resolved this uncertainty by barring him from participating in the election.
The APC primary election in Kogi State is expected to be keenly contested, with many aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket. The court’s decision to restrain Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka from participating in the primary election is likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of the election. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect the APC’s chances in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State.
The court has adjourned the case until a later date for further hearing. The decision of the court is a reminder of the importance of the rule of law in the electoral process and the need for parties to follow due process in their selection of candidates. The ruling also underscores the need for political parties to address internal conflicts and disputes in a timely and effective manner to avoid unnecessary legal battles.