Atiku Abubakar


A  Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed Sept. 14 to hear a suit filed by Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed the date after granting a motion on notice for an extension of time filed by Prisicila Eje, counsel for the PDP, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Atiku.


Prince Ekamon and Governor Wike are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs respectively in a suit dated June 2 and filed on June 3 while the PDP is the 1st defendant, the Independents National Electoral Commission (INEC), Aminu Tambuwal and Atiku are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.

Ekamon and Wike, in the suit, sought among other prayers, the court’s pronouncement declaring the Rivers State Governor as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election

While the PDP is the 1st defendant, the Independents National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tambuwal and Atiku are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively in the suit.

Okoi told the court that he had been served with a counter affidavit by PDP, Tambuwal, and Atiku.

They further argued that the instant suit, as brought by the applicants (Ekamon and Wike) did not fall within “the purview of Section 84 of the Electoral Act, as such does not qualify as a preelection dispute. That the instant suit was not initiated by due process of the law.”

Upon resumed hearing in the matter on Wednesday, Wilfred Okoi, counsel for Wike and Ekamon, told the court that the matter was filed through an originating summons dated June 2 and filed June 3. He said all the defendants, including INEC, had been served.