Abuja Court Grants Extension on Order Preventing Action Against Defecting Lawmakers
An Abuja Federal High Court has prolonged the interim order issued on December 15, preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking action against 26 Rivers House of Assembly members who switched from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The extension was granted on Thursday by Justice Donatus Okorowo, following an application presented by Steve Adehi, SAN, the legal representative for the lawmakers. Ken Njemanze, SAN, who represented the Rivers House of Assembly, supported the application.
Despite opposition from Adeyemi Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, the counsel for the PDP, Justice Okorowo exercised his discretionary power under Order 26, Rule 10 of the Federal High Court, stating that it was in the interest of justice to grant the extension based on the reasons provided by Adehi and Njemanze.
The judge adjourned the case until January 24, 2024, for the hearing of other pending applications.
On December 15, Justice Okorowo had granted an ex-parte motion filed by the 26 lawmakers, restraining INEC from conducting fresh elections for their seats and preventing INEC, PDP, and the House of Assembly from declaring their seats vacant or withdrawing their Certificates of Return until the motion on notice is heard and determined.
The plaintiffs had filed the motion against INEC, PDP, the House of Assembly, the Assembly Clerk, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Source: Daily Post
