The All Progressives Congress has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court , Justice John Tsoho , asking for the transfer of two suits filed against the candidacy of Mr Osagie Ize - Iyamu as the party ’ s flag - bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State , from Justice Taiwo Taiwo to another judge of the court .
The party stated that it would not get justice from Justice Taiwo because of his alleged strong affinity with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State , who belongs to the rival Peoples Democratic Party .
The PDP had nominated Governor Godwin Obaseki as its candidate in the forthcoming September 19 , 2020 governorship election in Edo State .
The APC, in its August 20 , 2020 petition signed by its National Secretary , John Akpanudoedehe , alleged that Wike had openly boasted that he would do everything to ensure that the PDP won the Edo State governorship election .
Aside the alleged affinity between Justice Taiwo and Wike, the APC also expressed doubts about the judge ’ s impartiality in the handling of the cases so far .
The party stated, “ That on August 10 , 2020 , when Suit No : FHC / ABJ/CS /758 /2020 came up for mention , the learned judge , suo motu, abridged the time allowed by law for the defendants to respond , even when some of the defendants have not been served with the originating processes , by fixing the matter for August 24 , 2020 , for hearing and that responses must be filed before then .
“ That at the time the learned judge made the said order , a motion on notice to abridge time was pending before the court which had not been served on all parties. ”
The APC said it had no confidence that it would get justice before Justice Taiwo Taiwo “ and therefore humbly request that the said matters be transferred to any other vacation Judge in the Federal Capital Territory . ”
In one of the two suits referred to in the petition , two APC members , Momoh Abdul -Razak and Zibiri Muhizu , asked the court to disqualify the party ’ s governorship candidate, Ize - Iyamu , and his running mate , Mr Audu Faniyi .
The plaintiffs ’ grounds for the suit included allegation that Ganiyu gave false information to INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship election .
When Abdul - Razak and Muhizu ’ s cases came up for hearing on Monday, Justice Taiwo said he could suspend hearing the case to await the decision of the Chief Judge .
The judge told Ize - Iyamu ’ s counsel , Mr Roland Otaru ( SAN ) , and counsel for Ehiogie West - Idahosa , that the court ’ s new practice direction did not allow a judge to withdraw from a suit the moment a petition was filed .
The defence lawyers the applied for an adjournment to enable them to respond to the suit.
The judge then adjourned till September 3.
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