Court to hear suit to disqualify Ize-Iyamu from Edo APC screening June 17

A Benin High Court will on June 17 hear the suit seeking to disqualify a governorship aspirant in Edo State, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening of aspirants for its primaries scheduled for June 22.

Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje gave the date on Thursday while adjourning the case instituted by the chairman of APC in Ohrionmwon Local Government Area of Edo, Benjamin Oghumu.

Mr Oghumu is praying the court to stop the screening of Mr Ize-Iyamu on the grounds that he is not a registered member of APC in the local government.

The suit was initially lodged at the Abudu High Court but later transferred to the State High Court in Benin.

The case was transferred sequel to a petition that Justice Vestie Eboreime of the Abudu High Court had been induced to secretly issue an ex-parte order, restraining APC from screening Ize-Iyamu.

There was heavy presence of security personnel around the High Court premises following the tension generated by the case.

The security operatives, together with the state Traffic Management Agency, barricaded the major roads and restricted both human and vehicular movements in the area.