The absence Wilfred Okoi, the lawyer to the plaintiffs in the suit filed by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and another member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Michael Ekamon, against the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday stalled the hearing of the suit.

Wike and Ekamon are, by the suit, seeking to, among others, void the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP candidate in the 2023 presidential election.

At the mention of the case yesterday, Ekamon told the court that Okoi, who was in court before the commencement of proceedings, suddenly fell ill and had to excuse himself.

Okoi had endorsed his name on the court’s cause list, but was not available when the case was called, following which Justice Ahmed Mohammed asked Ekamon, who was in court, about his lawyer’s whereabouts.

Ekamon admitted that Okoi was earlier in court, but later complained of serious stomach upset and had to promptly exit the court to seek medical attention.

Ekamon, who is the first plaintiff in the case, said: “I insisted that he (Okoi) stayed, but he said we should rush him down.”

When asked what he wanted the court to do in the circumstance, the lawyer said: “I pray the court to give us a little time so that he (plaintiffs’ lawyer) can get well and continue with the matter.”

Lawyer to the PDP and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Mr. Adeyemii Ajibade (SAN), did not oppose the request for adjournment.

Ajibade, who is also the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, said: “I have listened to the request of the first plaintiff. The reason for the absence of his counsel borders on ill health.

“We don’t need to go verifying. It can happen to anybody, as my lord has said. But we want the court to take notice because this is a pre-election matter of which time is of the essence.”

Justice Mohammed noted that as a human being, anyone could fall ill anytime, and wished Okoi quick recovery.

He adjourned till October 7 for hearing.

The plaintiffs, who prayed the court to declare Wike the PDP presidential candidate, have faulted the process that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate.

In their counter-affidavit, the PDP and other defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds it lacks merit.

They argued, among others, that Ekamon has no right known to law to file such a case.

THE NATION