The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered
substituted service on the All Progressives Congress (APC), its
candidate, David Lyon.
The court also ordered a substitute service on the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) in the November 16 governorship election.
The court presided over by Justice Jane Iyang, gave the directive to a
former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator
Heineken Lokpobiri, in a case he filed against the party, challenging
the primary election that led to the emergence of Lyon.
At the preliminary hearing of the suit, Justice Iyang granted the
exparte motion for substituted service and three other reliefs sought by
Lokpobiri, who was an aspirant in the party’s September 4 primary
election.
Justice Iyang, however, declined to issue an order of abridgement of
time, which required the defence to enter appearance, file and serve
their respective defence process within seven days following the
plaintiff’s prayer that the matter required an accelerated hearing.
She said the plaintiff could not unilaterally abridge the time of
response of the defence’s lawyer.
Iyang said following the argument by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mister
Fitzgerald Olorogun that the respondents were running away from being
served, the service should be done by pasting the document on the wall.
She ordered that Lyon be served by pasting the service on the campaign
secretariat along Isaac Boro Expressway, while INEC’s copy should be
pasted on its secretariat along Swali Road.