A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has barred incumbent governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, from contesting the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rescheduled for Thursday, June 25.

Reports just coming in from the Rivers State capital said that the order was issued yesterday, Monday, June 22, 2020 in a suit FHC/PH/CS/69/2020.

One of the reports, by the portal 1st News, said the order of interim injunction granted by Justice E.A Obile based on a suit filed by Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who is also contesting the PDP primary for the Edo State gubernatorial election.

The portal said that a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court order sighted by it “reveals that Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama had prayed the court to bar Obaseki from contesting the primary election on the grounds that the Edo Governor did not purchase the nomination form for the election. Also, he had held that Obaseki did not undergo screening within the time frame stipulated in the timetable by the PDP.

“Furthermore, the plaintiff had sought an order of the court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); from recognising Obaseki as a candidate of the PDP in the primary election.

“Joined in the suit was the Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Emmanuel Ogidi, Hon. Kingsley Chinda; Chief Bodekeme Boyleyefa, Sen. James Manager, Hon. Ajibola Muraina, the PDP, Obaseki and INEC.

Consequently, Justice Obile who heard the motion ex-parte ordered that the status quo be maintained. This is pending the accelerated hearing of the motion on notice on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.”

Obaseki defected to PDP on Friday, June 19, 2020 after being disqualified from contesting the APC primary in controversial circumstances. He and his Deputy Governor, Phillip Shuaibu, were soon granted a waiver to contest the party primary for the governorship election.

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