PDP challenges Buhari, AGF’s move to amend newly signed Electoral Act

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has sued President Muhammad Buhari before a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging fresh moves to tamper with the newly amended Electoral Act signed into law recently.

Others joined in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Clerk of National Assembly, Senate Leader, House of Representatives Leader and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also joined as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/247/2022 are Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Deputy Senate Leader and Deputy House of Representatives Leader.

PDP’s suit brought by their counsel, James Ogwu Onoja (SAN), is asking the court for an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and other defendants from refusing to implement the duly signed Electoral Act or in any manner witholding the Electoral Act from being put to use including the provisions of section 84 (12) of the said Act pending the resolution of the suit.

PDP also applied for an order of the court stopping the National Assembly from giving effect to President Buhari’s request to remove Section 84 (12) from the Electoral Act or take any step that will make the provision inoperative pending the resolution of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The PDP contends that having assented to the Bill on February 25, 2022, Buhari cannot give any directive to the National Assembly to take immediate steps to remove the section or any section of the Act on any ground whatsoever.