An Enugu Federal High Court on Thursday fixed May 8 to hear a suit filed by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Anike Nwoga, to challenge the revision of the Independent National Electoral Commission 2019 election timetable by the National Assembly.
Presiding judge, Justice A. M. Liman, set the hearing date after listening to the submissions of some of the parties in the suit.
Counsel to the second, third and fourth defendants in the suit — Independent National Electoral Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation — appeared before the court, but the first defendant — the National Assembly — was absent.
In his submissions, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Godwin Onwusi, explained that although the National Assembly has not appeared in court, all the relevant processes have been served on them.
Onwusi also urged the court to go ahead with the substantive matter because of the urgency of the matter.
Justice Liman thereafter fixed May 8 to hear the originating summons, noting that if the matter is argued on that day, he might deliver judgment on May 11.
The timetable released and published by INEC had stated that the poll would commence with the election of the President and members of the National Assembly and followed by governorship and state assembly elections.
But the National Assembly revised the timetable, placing the National Assembly election first, to be followed by the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls, while the presidential election will come last.
Source: Punch
