A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed November 8 to hear a suit challenging the election of Kola Abiola as the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed fixed the date after a consensus by counsel for the parties in the suit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Madam Patience Ndidi Key, a female presidential aspirant in the June 5 primaries conducted by the party, had prayed the court to nullify the poll that produced Abiola as the PRP’s presidential candidate.
Key, in an originating summons, also sought an order setting aside the declaration of Abiola as the winner of the party’s primaries conducted across the country.
NAN also reports that Kola is the son of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M. K. O.) Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
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The plaintiff (Key) had sued PRP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Abiola and as the first, second and third defendants.
Upon mentioning the matter, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Chief Magnus Ihejirika, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for further mention.
The lawyer said he had just been briefed by the plaintiff to take over the matter from the former counsel.
“Consequently, we have filed our notice of change of counsel, as required,” he said
Ihejirika told the court that the second and third defendants (INEC and Abiola) were yet to file any response.