Chief George Moghalu, an aspirant in the forthcoming November 6, 2021 Anambra State governorship election has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) of adopting a delay tactics to obstruct hearing of his suit seeking to delist the party and it’s candidate from the election.
He said that the objection raised to the hearing of suit by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it’s governorship candidate Emmanuel Andy Nnamdi Uba on the date fixed for definite hearing was in bad faith.
All Progressives Congress, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) and the party governorship candidate Emmanuel Andy Nnamdi Uba are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants to the suit marked No FHC/ABJ/CS /648/2021, where in the plaintiff had prayed the court to delist the party and it’s candidate Emmanuel Andy Nnamdi Uba from the election.
Moghalu stated this through his lead counsel Chief Chris Uche (SAN) on Wednesday when the matter which was for definite hearing was obstructed by 1st defendant (APC)’s application seeking to convert the originating summons into a writ of summons.
Responding to the defendant counsel submission that the application should be taken first and rule upon, plaintiff counsel Uche SAN stated that “on August 19, this matter was adjourned to September 21, for the hearing of the substantive suit along with all preliminary objections.”
“The applications are challenging the jurisdiction of the Court and mode of originating the suit, that is whether it should commence by originating summons or writ of summons and is a life issue already before the Court.”
He said that the defendant prayer exposed the bad faith to the hearing of the matter which has been the bane of hearing of political matter in the country.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the matter to September 28 for hearing .
In the suit, Moghalu has accused the APC of refusing to conclude the selection and nomination process for its candidates for the governorship election.
In his affidavit, he deposed that the party had decided to adopt direct primary which was why they published a list of venues that was meant for the exercise.
He also stated that the party received the sum of N22.5m from him for indication of interest and nomination in order to allow him participate in the primary election. He alleged that the primary election never took place.
He also sought for N122.5m as damages, which included a refund of the money spent in getting the indication of interest and nomination form.
The petitioner also asked for N100m as compensation for the breach of contract to commence and conclude the primary election.