by crossriverwatch admin
A Calabar High Court on the 18th of June 2013 restrained the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Cross River State Attorney General, Mr. Attah Ochinke and the chairman of Calabar South, Mr. Ekeng Henshaw from presenting one Ekanem Ekpenyong as the PDP councilorship candidate for ward seven in the coming local government elections in the state scheduled for the 21st of September.
The Court presided over by Justice M. Edem in an interlocutory injunction, restrained the party and the three defendants from presenting Ekanem Ekpenyong following a Motion on Notice brought by Mr. Charles Ita Effiom stopping the adoption of Ekanem Ekpenyong.
The Claimant, Mr. Charles Ita Effiom had claimed that he was the councilorship candidate for the recent primaries and had fulfilled all the requirements as a Councilorship candidate for ward 7 of Calabar South Local Government Area and also cleared by the party.
Justice Edem in his ruling said that Ita Effiom was cleared based on the PDP Screening Committee’s report of 30th May 2013 and the PDP press release which announced him as the cleared candidate signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state.
“The claimant avers that the contest for primaries was between him and Etim Maurice Eyo and never with Ekanem E. Ekpenyong who was returned in the final list.”
The Judge said that Ekanem Ekpeyong was not presented for the screening exercise wherein he (Ita Effiom) was screened and cleared and therefore should be the one to be on the final list to bear the party’s flag in ward seven.
According to the ruling, “Upon this application by way of Motion Exparte coming before this Honorable Court in its competent jurisdiction, upon reading through the 7 paragraphed affidavit and other processes filed,
“And after hearing F.O. Onyebueke Esq. for the Applicant praying this Honorable Court for: 1. An order restraining the Respondents, their agents, servants and privies from presenting the 2nd defendant as a candidate on the councilorship contest at Ward 7 of Calabar south Local Government, pending the determination of the motion on Notice.
“And for any other Order(s) as the Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this application, it is hereby ordered that the motion on Notice already filed be served on the Respondents. The motion on notice on the issue of contention shall be argued on Friday 21st June, 2013.”
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