The Kwara Government and the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit brought by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) aiming to stop the Local Government elections scheduled for September 21 in the state.
The request is contained in two notices of objection and counter affidavits they filed against the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1061/2024 now before Justice Peter Lifu.
They are equally praying the court issue an order either dismissing or striking out the suit for allegedly constituting an abuse of court process and being statute barred.
Johnson Usman (SAN), lawyer to KWSIEC, hinged his client’s objection on five grounds including the question of territorial jurisdiction as it applies to whether a court in Abuja could hear a case relating to the LG election in Kwara State.
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Usman noted that the suit was predicated on the LG election to be held in Kwara State on September 21 and argued that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked the territorial jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit “which deals with Kwara State Local Government Election being not election conducted or recognised under the Electoral Act, 2022.”
He further argued that the PDP lacked the necessary locus standi to file the case, which he also described as being incompetent.
Attorney General (AG) of Kwara State, Ibrahim Sulyman (SAN), sued as the third defendant, and also raised similar issues in his notice of objection and counter affidavit.
Other defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the State Security Service (SSS).