As the campaign of Peter Obi gains ground across the youth demographics, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Labour Party and its supporters not to converge at the Lekki toll gate for its #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally billed to hold on the 1st of October, 2020.
The court also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.
Justice Daniel Osiagor made these orders on Wednesday, September 28, while ruling on a motion for injunction brought by 10 plaintiffs, who are asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally.
The court further ruled that while the rally cannot stop at the Lekki toll gate, it may pass through the area to get to the Falomo Bridge and other locations where it intends to congregate.
However, because all parties to the lawsuit had not been served, the defendants’ preliminary objection, which sought to prevent the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction, could not be taken into consideration.
The judge postponed the hearing on the main lawsuit until November 4.
In the suit, 10 plaintiffs through their Romeo Ese Michael, Esq. are asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure and their loyalists from holding the rally, until the hearing and determination of their Motion-On-Notice of September 12, 2022.
In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs are arguing among other things that a repeat or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS protest of 2020 under the political guise of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” will cause a breakdown of peace and will result in post-traumatic stress disorder for them and the public.
