Court Nullifies Candidacy Of Ize-Iyamu’s Running Mate, Audu Ganiyu

The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin on Wednesday voided
Audu Ganiyu, the All Progressives Congress deputy governorship
candidate in the September 19, 2020 governorship election.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kadiri Oshoakhemhe,
had in a suit No: B/358/20 filed against the APC deputy
governorship candidate and two others.

Delivering judgment in Benin City, the presiding judge, Justice
H.A Courage-Ogbebor, said that Ganiyu presented false information
to the Independent National Electoral Commission in his Form
EC9.

Justice Courage Ogbebor, gave the judgement in the case brought
against Audu Ganiyu Abudu by the Plaintiff, Sunday Kadiri, from
Ogbona ward, in Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo
State, the same council area with Audu.

In the suit the plaintiff asked the court to disqualify the
deputy governorship candidate from participating in the election on
account of having allegedly given false information to the
electoral commission to aid his qualification for the election.

He also prayed the court to annul the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu as
the APC candidate for the governorship election on the ground of
running with an unqualified candidate as his running mate, the
latter having presented false information to INEC.

It would be recalled that in a similar pre-election matter, an
Abuja Federal High Court of coordinate jurisdiction, had in Suit
Number FHC/ABJ/CS/758/2020, filed by Action Democratic Party, ADP,
dismissed the matter with cost on the ground that the reliefs
sought had been overtaken by events, the election had held and a
winner emerged.

In his reaction, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, described the Benin High
Court as a wrong judgement, adding that he had instructed his
lawyers to contest it at a higher court.

“I have received the news of the judgement delivered today 6th
day of January 2021 by the Edo state high court sitting in Benin
City disqualifying me and my running mate, Hon Gani Audu from
contesting the gubernatorial election held in Edo state on 19th
September 2020”, Ize-Iyamu.

According to him, “this judgement to say the least is
unfortunate and utterly wrong. I have already instructed my counsel
to appeal against the judgement, as I am convinced that the Court
of Appeal will dispassionately consider the facts presented before
the court and arrive at a just decision in accordance with the
law,” he added.

The APC candidate appealed to his supporters to remain calm.

The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin on Wednesday voided
Audu Ganiyu, the All Progressives Congress deputy governorship
candidate in the September 19, 2020 governorship election.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kadiri Oshoakhemhe,
had in a suit No: B/358/20 filed against the APC deputy
governorship candidate and two others.

Delivering judgment in Benin City, the presiding judge, Justice
H.A Courage-Ogbebor, said that Ganiyu presented false information
to the Independent National Electoral Commission in his Form
EC9.

Justice Courage Ogbebor, gave the judgement in the case brought
against Audu Ganiyu Abudu by the Plaintiff, Sunday Kadiri, from
Ogbona ward, in Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo
State, the same council area with Audu.

In the suit the plaintiff asked the court to disqualify the
deputy governorship candidate from participating in the election on
account of having allegedly given false information to the
electoral commission to aid his qualification for the election.

He also prayed the court to annul the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu as
the APC candidate for the governorship election on the ground of
running with an unqualified candidate as his running mate, the
latter having presented false information to INEC.

It would be recalled that in a similar pre-election matter, an
Abuja Federal High Court of coordinate jurisdiction, had in Suit
Number FHC/ABJ/CS/758/2020, filed by Action Democratic Party, ADP,
dismissed the matter with cost on the ground that the reliefs
sought had been overtaken by events, the election had held and a
winner emerged.

In his reaction, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, described the Benin High
Court as a wrong judgement, adding that he had instructed his
lawyers to contest it at a higher court.

“I have received the news of the judgement delivered today 6th
day of January 2021 by the Edo state high court sitting in Benin
City disqualifying me and my running mate, Hon Gani Audu from
contesting the gubernatorial election held in Edo state on 19th
September 2020”, Ize-Iyamu.

According to him, “this judgement to say the least is
unfortunate and utterly wrong. I have already instructed my counsel
to appeal against the judgement, as I am convinced that the Court
of Appeal will dispassionately consider the facts presented before
the court and arrive at a just decision in accordance with the
law,” he added.

The APC candidate appealed to his supporters to remain calm.