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.
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