2023 Election: Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo Wins Round One In Court

 

Dr Francis Ottah

The Honourable Member representing Ado, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo , and his supporters, have today heaved a sigh of relief as the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi rejected the application of Aida Nath Ogwuche's lawyer, Barr. Kenneth Ikonne, asking the court to throw away the amendment to the Originating Summons by the incumbent House of Representatives Member, who is fondly called the Ozigizaga and Ubagidi of Enone!

The Learned trial judge, Justice Abdu Dogo ruled that he would entertain the motion for amendment as doing otherwise will be inimical to fair hearing and justice.

He thereafter entertained argument on the motion for amendment and after all the fireworks, the judge adjourned to July 28th this year for ruling.

 Aida Nath

Recall that after the May 23, 2022 PDP House of Representatives Primary election in Okpoga, which produced Aida Nath as candidate, the incumbent Lawmaker, Dr. Ottah Agbo stormed the Federal High Court, asking the court to nullify the candidature of Aida on grounds that she didn't resign from both the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as staff and Benue State Government where she serves as Principal Special Assistant to Governor Samuel Ortom.

Aida was employed by FIRS in 2018 and lobbied to be also appointed as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) in 2020.

Before her PSA appointment, she contested election to the PDP House of Assembly primary election to represent Ogbadibo in the Benue State House of Assembly in 2018, and lost without resigning from FIRS. She also reportedly earned double salary from both FIRS and BENUE State Government.

It was for this and many other reasons that the Ozigizaga and his lawyers led by Chief Anthony Malik, SAN have approached the court to knock off Aida and replace her with the Ozigizaga who came second in the May 23 primary election.

Quoting copiously from section 66 sub section 1 (f) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 84 subsection 12 of the Electoral Act as amended , which among other things say that any Civil/Public Servant or political appointee who intends to contest election must first and foremost, resign from his/ her position before participating in the election which the Supreme Court has defined as a process.

For Aida she neither resigned from FIRS nor from Benue State Government.

This makes her aspiration to the House of Representatives dead on arrival...!

Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo is in good spirit and very hopeful of reclaiming his mandate from the court to continue with his excellent service to his constituency.