TheCable

A high court sitting in Benin City, capital of Edo state, has fixed June 17 to hear the suit seeking to disqualify Osagie Ize-Iyamu, an Edo governorship aspirant, from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election.

The primary election to select the APC governorship candidate for the September poll is scheduled to hold on June 22.

Emmanuel Ahamioje, the presiding judge, announced the date on Thursday while adjourning the case instituted by Benjamin Oghumu, the APC chairman in Ohrionmwon local government area (LGA) of Edo.

Oghumu is praying the court to stop the screening of Ize-Iyamu on the grounds that he is not a registered member of APC in the LGA.

The suit was initially lodged at the Abudu high court, but later transferred to the state high court in Benin, sequel to a petition that Vestie Eboreime, a justice of the Abudu high court, had been induced to secretly issue an ex-parte order, restraining APC from screening Ize-Iyamu.

There was heavy presence of security personnel around the high court premises on Thursday.

The security operatives, with the state traffic management agency, barricaded the major roads and restricted both human and vehicular movement in the area.

Some journalists, who arrived late for coverage, were barred from going into the court until the intervention of Idemudia Aziegbemhin, the court registrar.

Ize-Iyamu is set to contest against Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of the state, for the APC gubernatorial ticket.