Uba’s certificate: APC not ready, asks court for another date

Hearing could not go on in the suit instituted by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its governorship candidate in Benue State, Rt. Hon Titus Uba, because the APC said it was not ready.

The APC and its governorship candidate in Benue State, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia are contesting that the column for academic credentials of a candidate in INEC form EC-9 submitted by Titus Uba of the PDP is blank.

Also joined in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1308/ 2022 at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, is the PDP and Rt. Hon Titus Uba as second and third defendants respectively.

When the case came up for mention on Wednesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, counsel to the APC, Matthew Burkaa, submitted that he has noticed some typographical errors on the first and second questions on the originating summons which was filed on July 27,2022, and he wishes to amend it.

Lead Counsel to the PDP and Rt. Hon Titus Uba, Chief Sebastine Hon, SAN, did not oppose the oral application.

Hon, SAN, added that the defendants do not even need to formally file the application for amendment before moving it, as he wants APC and Rev. Fr. Alia to make the amendments so that they can immediately proceed to hearing of the substantive suit.

Burkaa, SAN, then proceeded by moving his oral application to amend some typographical errors on the first and second questions in the suit and it was granted by the Presiding Judge D. O Okorowo.

Justice Okorowo then asked APC and Alia’s counsel if he was ready to proceed to hearing of his case against the PDP and Uba.

Responding, counsel to the APC and Rev. Alia said he was not ready to proceed to hearing as he needed to file a further affidavit in response to the counter Affidavit of the PDP and Uba to the suit.

He asked the court for an adjournment to enable him file his counter affidavit.

Hon, SAN, pointed out that the suit was filed on July 27, 2022 but the plaintiffs took a long time to serve them.

He wondered why the APC and Rev. Fr. Alia who are the ones asserting that Uba has failed to comply with the law are the ones who are now foot dragging having been served a full compliment of the defendants processes.

After listening to the counsels in the matter, Justice Okorowo adjourned the case to October 13 for definite hearing.

The APC and its governorship candidate in Benue State, Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia are contesting that the column for academic credentials of a candidate in INEC form EC-9 submitted by Titus Uba of the PDP is blank.

Curiously, the APC attached uncertified documents in proof of its originating summons, whereas, the PDP in defense attached certified true copies of uploaded INEC form EC-9, showing that all relevant columns were filled.

The PDP also annexed certified true copies of all relevant credentials of Rt. Hon Titus Uba from primary, secondary, and tertiary as well as professional qualifications.