The legal battle for the 2027 election ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Delta South Senatorial seat was on Monday shifted again by the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
At Monday’s proceedings, when the suit instituted by a former Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Prince Micheal Diden, was to be heard, Justice Mohammed Umar, put it off till Wednesday, to enable the electoral body appear in court to present its own position.
It would be recalled that this is the third time INEC would be absent in court. The commission has also not filed any process in respect of the matter.
During the proceedings, Bankole Joel Akomolafe, SAN, appeared for the plaintiff, while Lukman Fagbemi, SAN, announced appearance for Senator Joel Onowakpo and Habeeb Lawal stood for the APC.
Lead counsel to the plaintiff, told the judge that he had filed his reply to the two sets of statements of defense of Senator Onowakpo and APC and that he had served same on them as 1st and 2nd defendants.
Akomolafe however, noted that the electoral body was still not in court despite the service of the originating summons on it to enable it file its defense.
The senior lawyer said that in view of the critical importance of INEC to the suit, he would concede to an adjournment till Wednesday to allow the electoral body be in court.
He also announced to the court that the two
