By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, declined to sack Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross Rivers State from office over an allegation that he falsified his age. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state  and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Joe Odey Agi, had in his suit, alleged that governor Ayade lied about his age.

The plaintiff who came second in the gubernatorial  primary election  the PDP held in Cross River State on December 8, 2014, adduced exhibits before the court showing that governor Ayade had in three different affidavits that were deposed on oath, gave conflicting dates as his year of birth. Besides, he contended that governor was not qualified to be the gubernatorial flag-bearer of the PDP having allegedly failed to pay his membership subscription since 2014. Consequently, the plaintiff, among other things, prayed the court to determine “Whether in the circumstance, Benedict B. Ayade, is qualified to contest or be nominated without breaching the Guidelines and constitution of the PDP and section 177(c) of the Nigerian  Constitution, 1999, as amended”.

Delivering judgment on the matter yesterday, Justice Abdul Kafarati agreed  with the PDP that the issue of whether Ayade was validly nominated or not, fell within the purview of an internal affair of a political party.

Justice Kafarati said there was evidence to the effect that Ayade was not only duly cleared to contest the April 11 gubernatorial election in the state, but also paid his monthly subscription fees.