The federal government has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on the contentious Section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act 2022.
The party had dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, Clerk of the National Assembly, Senate Leader, House of Representatives Leader and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), before a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging moves to tamper with the newly amended Electoral Act.
Also joined as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/247/2022 are Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Deputy Senate Leader and Deputy House of Representatives Leader.
The main opposition party in the suit filed on its behalf by Chief James Ogwu Onoja, SAN, is praying the Federal High Court for an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and other defendants from refusing to implement the duly signed Electoral Act or in any manner withholding the Electoral Act from being put to use, including the provisions of section 84 (12) of the said Act pending the resolution of the suit.
However, Buhari in a counter-affidavit filed by Oladipupo Okpeseyi (SAN) and deposed to by Abimbola Akintola, a legal practitioner on Thursday said he did not order the Senate to remove the contentious Section 84 (12) from the amended Electoral Act 2022.
He said he only expressed reservations and concerns in respect of the aspect of the Electoral Act.
