Defecting Governors: Court fixes date on ruling

An Abuja Federal High Court on Monday
fixed May 23 for ruling in a suit instituted by the
People’s Democratic Party against its five
governors who defected to the APC.
The PDP had sued the governors, seeking a
court order to declare their seats vacant on
account of their defection.
Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano
State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and
Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, had on November
26, 2013, left the PDP for the APC.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date after
hearing the arguments of the respective
governors challenging the validity of the hearing
notices served on the governors in their Abuja
liaison offices.
The PDP counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), who
filed the suit on behalf of the party, had said it
was brought pursuant to Section 177 (c), 221
and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, Damian Dodo
(SAN), who held the brief of Izinyon, prayed the
court for leave to regularise the party’s service
on the defendants which was granted.

"Service has been duly executed in line with the
court order. We have, therefore, come to ask His
Lordship for leave to additionally serve the
defendants at their Liaison Offices.
"Therefore, our application is not incongruous
and invidious as argued by the second to the
sixth defendant’s counsel.

"We, therefore ask the court to discountenance
their counter-affidavit and grant our application,’’
Dodo said.
Five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, leading about
100 other lawyers for the governors, had, in their
respective arguments, objected to the PDP’s
motion for substituted service.

The Senior Advocates are Akin Olujinmi for
Governor Ahmed, Lateef Fagbemi for Governor
Amaechi, Yusuf Alli for Governor Kwankwaso,
Awa Kalu for Governor Wamakko and John
Baiyeshea for Governor Nyako.