The Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to has lodged a contempt case against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan before an FCT High Court
The case filed on April 20, accused Amupitan of failure to abide by a January 17 which rejected the suit of Senator Samuel Anyanwu challenging his expulsion from the PDP.
The suit joined Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Chief Tom Ikimi, Abdullahi Idris Umar, Talford Ongolo, Emma Ibeshi, Zainab Maina, Chile Igbawua and Eyitayo Jegede as judgement creditors against Amupitan.
The National Secretary of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-backed faction, Samuel Anyanwu, had rejected his suspension by a panel and asked the court to validate his position.
But the court threw out the suit on account of the expiration of Anyanwu’s tenure, as his lawyer said his tenure expired in December of the previous year.
However, the Damagum group insisted that the commission must comply with the January order, which they see to be against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
But Anyanwu’s counsel, Ken Njemanze (SAN), said the committee recommendation to suspend Anyanwu was not by NEC, adding that the court did not dismiss his suit but only declined jurisdiction.
Njemanze said the court’s ruling delivered in January \only came to light in March, but did not affirm Anyanwu’s suspension or expulsion.
“The judge merely held that he had no jurisdiction in the matter, so how has the chairman of INEC disobeyed an order?”, Njemaze said
