Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has delivered judgement in the case brought by one Hassan Zakari (plaintiff) against the incumbent chairman and Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2022 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election, John Gabaya Shekwogaza, His Deputy and The Independent National electoral commission INEC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants.

In almost one(1) hour judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled the case brought for determination separately; while the court hold that the 1st defendants is qualified to contest the election, the 2nd defendant and the incumbent Vice chairman was technically disqualified as the court ruled that it did not agreed that the certificates he tendered to the 3rd defendant for purpose of contesting the 2022 FCT election are not forged.

The court also said that the defendants claim that the plaintiff has no locust standing to challenge it’s eligibility because He was not an aspirant or a political party was not true.

The court reserve the interpretation of the judgement to the appellate court.

Speaking to journalists, counsel to the 1st and 2nd defendant Pius Pius said the judgement has been delivered in parts. ” The trial court has done it best, definitely the appellate court will clarify the issues that the that the trial court has left unresolved, the trial court had agreed that the documents were not issued by either of the parties but were issued by appropriate authorities but the relief seek by the plaintiff are that the 1st and 2nd defendants forged this documents.We will get the judgement, we will advise our clients and tell them the right that the constitution hold for them, this is pre-election case, this court is not the highest court, there are still two court ahead of this court wherein this court will assisted in resolving this issue.”

For the counsel to the plaintiff, Praise Ahiaba said “the judgment against the first defendant didn’t go in their favour but having disqualified the vice chairman, Musa Aminu from contesting in the 2022 FCT council poll, the Chairman cannot run alone since there are both running on joint ticket”.

The plaintiff and the defendants are getting set to appeal the judgment of the lower court.

SOURCE: https://summitpostnews.com/2021/10/12/certificate-forgery-abuja-high-court-technically-disqualifies-pdp-john-gabaya-from-fct-poll/

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