A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a suit filed by Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo, asking the court to disqualify the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, from contesting the 2019 Governorship Election on account of age declaration.
William-Wobodo applied to discontinue the suit after counsels to Governor Wike challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.
Ruling on Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/1020/2018, filed by the Rivers APC chieftain, Justice I.E. Ekwo ordered that the suit be discontinued as was prayed for by the plaintiff.
William-Wobodo, said to be an aide of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, had sued Governor Wike and joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as co-defendant.
When the matter came up in court, William-Wobodo said: “Ordinarily this matter is stated for mention today. But counsel on the other side has filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court. However, I intend to withdraw this suit just like I informed the learned SAN on the other side. I made that decision over the weekend and my colleague in chamber is trying to file a notice of discontinuance so that we can bring it to the Court formally. But if the Court is minded, we intend to discontinue this application.”
Justice Ekwo ordered: “After hearing William-Wobodo Esq plaintiff applied in person to discontinue the suit against the defendants and the counsels of the defendants not opposing the application but applying for a cost of N1,000,000 and the court having granted the application, it is hereby ordered as follows:
“That the suit is hereby dismissed.
“That a cost of N50,000 is hereby awarded for the second defendant (Nyesom Ezenwo Wike) against the plaintiff.”
The Rivers State Governor, Wike was duly nominated to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) in the 2019 general election in Rivers State at a Governorship Primary held on September 30, 2018 at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.
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