By Osahon Osahon
Some members of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have dragged the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee (NWC) before a State High Court in Benin.
They are challenging the waiver granted to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by the Oshiomhole-led NWC to contest the governorship primaries of the party slated for July this year.
The case also has as defendant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Claimants in the suit marked HAB/05/1/2 are Unweni Nosa, Mathew Ogbebor, who hails from Ize-Iyamu’s Ugboko Ward, and Benjamin Oghumu, the APC chairman in Orhionmwon, the aspirant local government area.
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When the preliminary hearing of the suit came up on Thursday, the claimants, through their Counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), also sought an order “restraining Ize-Iyamu from parading himself as a governorship aspirant entitled to participate in the APC primary election billed for June 22.”
The claimants prayed for a declaration that any waiver purportedly granted by Oshiomhole to Ize-Iyamu on May 21, 2020 or any other date is in gross violation of the provisions of the 1999 constitution and the 2014 amended constitution of APC.
According to them, “having regard to provisions of Articles 31(2) and 31(3)(II) of the APC Constitution, Oshiomhole cannot validly grant a waiver to the 3rd defendant without the approval of the National Executive Committee of the party and without Ize-Iyamu formally applying for such waiver through his claimed ward, local government and State.”
The Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje, adjourned further hearing in the suit to June 17.
Journalists, except those of the State-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), were granted access by security operatives to cover the court proceedings.
