July 19, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, on Monday, 18th July, 2022, commenced hearing on a suit filed by Hon. Azibalamawal Jonathan, a frontline aspirant on the platform of PDP in the botched party primary, challenged the purported declaration of Mr Richard Ibegu, aka Baddest, as winner of the PDP primary for the Ogbia Constituency one.
In suit number FHC/YNG/CS/114/2022, the complainant, Hon Azibalamawal Jonathan is challenging the PDP, INEC and the purported winner of the botched primary, Richard Ibegu, alleging that following the violence which characterised the exercise at the Ogbia town venue of the primary, he was not aware and was not informed that any other PDP primary for the Ogbia Constituency one was conducted same day at a different venue, hence the declaration of Mr Richard Ibegu as winner should be nullified and a fresh primary be conducted.
However, on the first day of hearing of the matter, the presiding Judge, Justice Isa H. Dashen adjourned the matter to 29th July, 2022, citing the absence of the trio of the PDP, INEC and the alleged winner, Richard Ibegu, as reason for doing so.
Speaking to our correspondent, lead-Counsel to Hon. Azibalamawal Jonathan, Barr. Jide Okunoye Esq, said they were in court to seek redress to the unlawful exclusion of their client, Azibalamawal Jonathan.
Okunoye noted that he and his team of legal practitioners are seeking for the nullification of the purported primary, in which Richard Ibegu was allegedly declared winner, saying also that part of their prayers are that, the court do also compel the PDP to conduct a fresh primary for Ogbia Constituency one.
Also speaking, for the umpteenth time, the complainant, Hon. Azibalamawal Jonathan condemned the violence which characterised the botched primaries in Ogbia town, saying that regrettably, even upon the loss of life of a PDP faithful at the botched exercise, the party and INEC still declared Mr Richard Ibegu winner of an election, which he noted was never held in Ogbia town that day, and in which as an aspirant he was never notified of a sudden change of venue on same day.
He called on his supporters and party faithfuls to continue to maintain peace and believe even more in the PDP, describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and the oppressed.
About the Author
