The court made the decision after a counsel to Biyi Poroye, the Chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party, withdrew several motions asking for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal which had planned to rule on the matter last week.
A panel of five Supreme Court justices in Abuja today ordered expeditious hearing of the election case involving two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concerning the choice of a legitimate candidate for the governorship election in Ondo State.
The court made the decision after a counsel to Biyi Poroye, the Chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the party, withdrew several motions asking for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal which had planned to rule on the matter last week. Following the disclosure by SaharaReporters that Governor Olusegun Mimiko had penetrated the court, the panel suddenly halted its proceedings.
In suspending the judgment, which had been scheduled for last Friday, the Court of Appeal attributed its action to the Supreme Court having indicated to it that it would consider the appeal by Mr. Poroye, which contested the legitimacy of the Justice Ibrahim Salauwa-led Court of Appeal panel.
During today’s hearing, Poroye’s lawyer, Beloulisa Nwafor (SAN) withdrew all his petitions before the Supreme Court, leading the apex court to order an expeditious hearing of the case before the Court of Appeal.
With the decision, the Court of Appeal is expected to give a ruling that would significantly shake the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, just days away, in Ondo state.
An Independent National Electoral Commission source told SaharaReporters that a postponement of the election was not in the cards.
