The All Progressives Congress’ legal battle challenging her exclusion by the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission, CROSIEC, from participating in the Local Government Elections in Cross River State continued in the High Court, Calabar, today.
CROSEIC’s reply to the motion filed by APC to restrain CROSIEC from conducting the elections on Saturday the 21st September 2013 was however stalled today because the CROSIEC legal team led by Attah Ochike , Attorney General of Cross River State, filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Court to hear the suit.
The APC legal team of comprising Barristers Matthew Ojua; Okoi Obono-Obla, Osim, Laz Izeba, et al, urged the Court to issue an interim order of injunction restraining CROSIEC from conducting the election until the hearing of the Motion filed by APC for Interlocutory Injunction. Attah Ochinke urged the Court in his arguement to discountenance the application of APC on the grounds that since CROSIEC has challenged the jurisdiction of the Court the Court must first resolve whether it has jurisdiction or not before any order can be made.
The Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Ofem Ikpi Ofem, in his ruling, held that he will first take the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by CROSIEC and ordered APC to file its Reply to the Notice of Preliminary Objection. He adjourned the matter to tomorrow, 17th September 2013 for argument of the Notice of Preliminary Objection.
