The Federal High Court of Abuja
yesterday adjourned a suit
challenging the eligibility of the
Chairman of Bwari Area Council
of the FCT, John Shekwoghaza
Gabaya, to contest in the
forthcoming chairmanship
elections in the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) slated for
February 12, 2022.
The suit, which was instituted
by Hassan Zakari, is
challenging the primary school
testimonial/certificate
submitted by Gabaya, who is
the Peoples’ Democratic Party
(PDP) candidate to the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
Meanwhile the counsel to the plaintiff, George Ibrahim, told the court that the credentials
submitted by the first defendant were
forged, and as such, citing Section 31 Sub-section 5 of the Electoral Act, affirmed his client’s right to challenge the false information submitted to INEC.
He also told the court that his client
became aware of the forged credentials on June 6, 2021, when INEC published the names of the candidates seeking to participate in the FCT council polls next year; hence the suit.
Furthermore The counsel for the first
and second defendants, who made
reference to Section 284 Sub-section
14 of the constitution, said the plaintiff was neither an aspirant nor a political party and as such could not challenge the authenticity of the documents submitted to INEC since it was a pre-election matter.
Finally The Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, after listening to both counsels, adjourned the suit to October 11.