An aspirant in the May 27 House of Representatives primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency, Segun Olobatoke has asked the Federal High Court to disqualify the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole from contesting the seat come next general election.
This is coming after the name of the Speaker was reportedly missing on the list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Olobatoke has also approached the court to order APC to accept and submit his name to INEC as its House of Representatives candidate for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency.
In the suit marked FHC/LKJ/CS/37/2022 and filed on July 1 by his lawyer, Olobatoke has APC, INEC and Kolawole as first, second and third defendants respectively.
In the originating summons, Olobatoke argued that Kolawole ought to be disqualified from participating in the 2023 elections for giving false information in the affidavit and documents submitted by the Speaker in relation to his constitutional requirements to contest the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections.
He prayed the court to declare him winner of the May 27 primary election having scored the second highest number of lawful votes and satisfied the constitutional requirements.
Olobatoke also sought an order of the court directing APC to submit his name to INEC as its House of Representatives candidate for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, there was no appearance for either of the defendants.
The Presiding Judge, Justice P.H. Mallong adjourned the case to Friday 15th July 2022.
At the hearing on Friday, Justice Mallong adjourned the matter to next week.
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