JUST IN: Court Dismisses PDP’s Case Against Senator Abiru

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’s suit seeking to disqualify Senator Adetokunbo Abiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from continuing to represent Lagos East Senatorial District.

Justice Chuka Obiozor, in a five-hour judgment on Monday, upheld the argument canvassed by Abiru’s lawyer, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, that the PDP’s case was statute barred.

The judge also disagreed with the PDP’s argument made through its counsel Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot transfer a voter’s registration details.

Abiru won the last December 5 senatorial bye-election by a landslide, polling 89,204 votes against the PDP’s Ademola Gbadamosi, who polled 11,257 votes.

The APC chieftain has since been sworn into office.

Last week, the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos struck out a petition by the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) challenging the December 5, 2020 election victory of Senator Abiru.

The three-man panel chaired by Justice Bassey Ikpeme made the order after granting an application by the APM and its candidate Olusola Taiwo Moses Babatope to withdraw their petition.