The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has granted the request of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to move the case brought by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim against the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election from Abuja to the Akure Division for a hearing.
The case was originally scheduled to be mentioned before Justice Inyang Ekwo in Abuja on May 29, but will now be heard at the Federal High Court Akure, in accordance with the existing practice direction issued by the Honourable Chief Judge, which stipulates that all pre-election matters should be heard and determined in the judicial division where the election occurred.
According to a report on May 14, the APC had requested the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case filed by the defeated party's governorship aspirant, Senator Ibrahim, from Abuja to Ondo State, since the primary election in question took place there.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Judge by counsel to APC, Matthew Burkaa SAN, who is named as the 1st Respondent in the suit, the convenience of the parties was cited as the reason for the request, given that the plaintiff and defendants are based in Ondo State and there is a Federal High Court in the state.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim filed the suit at the Abuja Division of the Court on May 3, 2024, seeking to invalidate the primary election that resulted in the emergence of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as the party's candidate for the November election. The APC, Governor Aiyedatiwa, and INEC are named as defendants in the suit.
Subsequently, the APC suspended Jimoh Ibrahim for alleged anti-party activities. The suspension letter, obtained by SaharaReporters, was carried out by 16 members of the APC Executive Committee of Igbotako Ward 11 in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State. Senator Ibrahim represents Ondo South Senatorial District.