Almost four months after the defection of Senator Francis Alimikhena, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the state deputy chairman of APC in Edo state, Mr Jarrett Tenebe has dragged the Senator representing Edo North to court, seeking that he vacate office for defecting to the PDP.
The case which was instituted in the Federal High Court Benin in Suit No: FHC/B/CS/114/2022 also joined the President of the Senate and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Mr Jarrett is arguing that the mandate given by the electorate was to the APC and not PDP, and that Senator Alimikhena, as the candidate of the party at the election, “cannot transfer the mandate to the PDP or any other political party.”
N.O Ademokhai Esq, is leading lawyer in the suit.
Mr Jarrett is seeking: “A judicial declaration giving the INEC power to conduct a by-election for the replacement to the seat of Edo North Senatorial district.
“A declaration that in view of the provisions of section 221 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, 1999 (as amended) and the democratic system of governance operated in Nigeria, votes at the election and elections are won by political parties and not their candidates or the candidates sponsored at the election by the political parties.”
The defendants were given “30 days after service of this summons on them, inclusive of the day if such service, cause an appearance to be entered for them to this summons.”
See the full summons below:
