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| Supreme Court of Nigeria |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is asking the Supreme Court to send its own Governor Ben Ayade, packing from the Cross River state government house for allegedly falsifying his age.
Ayade won the 2015 election in the state under the party’s platform, but the same party, through its lawyer, Mr N Ibegbulam, told presiding Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour that it is standing by an appeal filed by Mr Joe Agi, an aspirant in the election, against the governor stating that the latter lied about his age.
The Supreme Court is to deliver judgement on the alleged age falsification by Governor Ayade Agi came second in the primary election conducted by the PDP in the state on December 8, 2014 but he presented exhibits before the court showing that the governor had in three different affidavits claimed conflicting date of birth.
Vanguard reports that the evidence before the court showed that Ayade stated on oath that he was born on March 2, 1969 in the nomination form with the code: PD 003/G, which he used to contest the election. In another age declaration his brother, Frank Ayade, swore to before a Cross River state High Court and which was attached to the form, his year of birth was put at 1968. In yet another document showing when the governor applied for admission into the University of Ibadan, his date of birth was given as March 2, 1966. The PDP told the Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 27, that it fully backed the claim that Ayade violated the party’s electoral guidelines by providing a wrong date of birth.
“My Lords, after due consideration, we apply to concede to this appeal and consequently apply to withdraw the 1st respondent’s brief of argument dated May 17. “We urge your lordships to find merit in the appeal and apply article 14(b) and 15(2) of the PDP electoral guidelines which disqualifies any candidate that gives false age declaration,” the PDP said.
The court has now fixed December 9 for judgement.
Culled From Naij.com
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