APC Candidate Seeks Change Of Judge In Suit Against PDP

A House of Representatives candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Hon. Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, has petitioned the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt over Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam, alleged close relationship with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Daylop-Pam is currently presiding over a suit brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking to disqualify the National Assembly candidates of the APC in the forthcoming 2023 general elections in Rivers State.

The PDP had in a suit Number FHC/PH/CS/127/2022, accused the APC of not complying non the provisions of the Electoral Act in the election of its National Assembly candidates and not allowing INEC to monitor their just concluded party primaries.

However, Ezekiel-Amadi, in a petition addressed to the administrative judge of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt and dated July 21, requested for the withdrawal of the case file from Daylop-Pam and reassignment of the suit to another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The petition reads in part: “My Lord, I am the one purportedly sued as the 12 defendant in the above-named suit as nominated by my party, the 2nd defendant, as it’s candidate for the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency on the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

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“My Lord, I am writing to your exalted office as the administrative judge of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, to recall the case file from Justice S. Daylop-Pam and remit same to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for reassignment to another Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“I make this request on the following grounds; the presiding judge has a personal relationship with the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, which relationship is too deep to allow my case to be presided by the Presiding Judge.”

When the matter came up yesterday for hearing, Daylop-Pam adjourned till 29th of August, 2022 for hearing and resolution on the petition.