Govs’ defection: PDP suffers another setback in court

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suffered another setback at a Federal High Court in Abuja as it failed to force court summons to be served on its five former governors who defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The court declined the application by PDP to use the court floor to serve summons on the governors whose seats were being sought to be declared vacant.
Alex Izinyon (SAN) leading the PDP case pleaded with the court to cause a bailiff to serve court summon on the governors through their individual lawyers “so as to pave way for speedy hearing of the suit.”
The move was opposed by the governors who, through their lawyer, claimed that they had not been served with any court process in respect of the case.

The five governors are Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa.
But the governors’ lawyers refused to accept the service of court summons on behalf of their clients on the floor of the court on the reason that PDP had failed to do the proper service allowed by law.

The lawyers are Chief Olujinmi, a former Minister of Justice, for governor Ahmed, Prince Lateef Fagbemi for Rotimi Amaechi, Malam Yusuf Ali for Musa Kwankwaso, Chief Awa Kalu for Aliyu Wamakko and Mr. John Olusola Baiyeshea for Murtala Nyako.
They argued that PDP should serve the governors the summons through the APC National Headquarters at No 6, Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6, as ordered by the court on December 13, 2013, and not on the floor of the court.

Justice Kolawole ordered that the court summon be served on the governors along with other processes already filed by the PDP at the APC National Secretariat at No 6, Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6.
He adjourned the case to February 24.