By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, refused to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from submitting the name of Alhaji Umar Nasko as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Niger State.

In a ruling yesterday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed equally declined request for an interim injunction compelling PDP to rather submit the name of the plaintiff, Engr Mu’azu Hanafi Sarkin, to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the validly elected gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state.

The court however slated January 8, 2015,to hear the substantive suit which is challenging the outcome of the primary election PDP held in Niger State on December 8.

It noted that granting the interim order as the plaintiff applied through an ex-parte application, would amount to delving into the merits of the substantive suit pending before the court.

“I am unable to grant the two prayers sought in the motion paper; plaintiff’s motion for an interlocutory injunction is refused”, the Justice held.

According the judge, “Court should refrain from touching issues meant for trial at an interlocutory stage.

“The court cannot grant the prayers at interlocutory stage without hearing the substantive matter”. The court said it was not unmindful of the need to determine the matter expeditiously and thus ordered an accelerated hearing of the suit.