The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has filed a fresh suit at a Federal High Court in Benin, seeking the disqualification of Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Audu Abudu Ganiyu, governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election
The suit filed at the High Court had the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and the All Progressives Congress as Defendants.
The party also alleged that the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC presented forged documents to the INEC.
Confirming the suit to journalists on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, said, the party had filed a suit, seeking the disqualification of APC candidate Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, from participating in the forthcoming election, over certificate forgery.
The party stressed that the fact of the matter is a serious one, and ADP would ensure justice is served. The statement reads in part:
“For us to have good governance and good leaders in any part of this country, those contesting elections, must present authentic qualifications, as required by the electoral umpire, INEC, anything contrary must be challenged at the court”.
The party maintained that, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC who bears the name Audu Abudu Ganiyu presented to the INEC, a voters card which bore the name Audu Abdul Ganiyu.
ADP stressed that Audu also presented a West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) bearing the name Audu Ahudu Gsneyu to INEC.
The party therefore asked the Court to interpret the certificates and declare that the Deputy Governorship candidate of the APC presented forged certificates to INEC, which, according to it, violated Section 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Plaintiff sought an order disqualifying Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and the APC from contesting the September 19 gubernatorial poll as well as an order compelling the INEC to remove Ize-Iyamu Osagie Andrew, Audu Abudu Ganiyu and APC from its list of candidates eligible to contest the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.