OBASEKI TO PROCURE FEDERAL HIGH COURT JUDGMENT BLOCKING ELECTION, SCREENING OF IZE-IYAMU

The Campaign Organization of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the leading aspirant of the APC for the Edo Governorship election, has raised alarm over alleged plans by the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to procure a High Court judgment meant to bar the party from conducting its internal primary set for June 22 and from screening Pastor Ize-Iyamu for participation.

The Organization claims the incumbent governor is seeking to intimidate the courts into scuttling the internal primary of the All Progressives Congress and deny participation to Ize Iyamu over concerns that he is going to lose the election.

In a statement released, the Director of Communication and Media, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu Campaign Organization, Mr. John Mayaki said: “The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has unfortunately continued in his widely condemned abuse of power and intimidation of the state’s judiciary to fulfill his personal political wishes.”

“After failing to secure a black market injunction at Abudu High Court following widespread reports of his alleged connivance with the Justice of that court, Justice Vestie Eborieme, the embattled governor has now gone ahead to secretly file the ex-parte order at the Federal High Court in Benin City where armed men, who ought to be offering protection to Edo citizens at this crucial period, are standing guard.”

“It is instructive to note that the legal representative of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu had observed and reported the strange, biased disposition of Justice Vestie Eborieme of the Abudu High Court on Monday, June 1, when she tried to hurriedly conduct the hearing and grant the application for the ex-parte order.”

“Despite being presented with provisions of Order 7 Rule 3, Order 40 Rules 4, 7 and 8 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules which cumulatively provides that notwithstanding that it is an ex-parte application, as far as counsels of the defendants are in court, they have a right to be heard on the ex-parte application and to accept service in our behalf, Justice Vestie Eborieme refused to do this and pandered to the illegal request of Obaseki’s agents who filed the case in the court.”

“Her actions lent credence to the allegations of an unwholesome exchange with the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, and forced our legal representatives to write a petition to the Chief Judge, requesting a transfer of the case from Justice Vestie Eborieme who obviously has an interest beyond that which is legally and morally acceptable.”

“This expose on the connivance with Justice Vestie Eborieme has now led to the secret filing of the ex-parte order at the Federal High Court in Benin City.”

“While we continue to wonder why an incumbent governor who claims to be successful and popular is adamant on scuttling a democratic process and blocking the participation of other aspirants, we wish to draw the attention of the public to the escalating abuse of Executive power ongoing in Edo State where the Governor, alongside other senior government officials are forcefully coopting the state’s judiciary into their selfish political plots.”

“There is an existing Supreme Court ruling that frowns at judicial interventions in the internal affairs of a party, including the conduct of primaries and this mindless targeting of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu is only inspired by fear.