‘Don’t converge at Lekki toll gate’ – Lagos court tells #OBIDATTI23 supporters

A federal high court in Lagos has issued an order stopping Labour Party (LP) supporters from converging at the Lekki toll gate for a planned #Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally billed for October 1.

Peter Obi’s supporters had planned a massive rally on Nigeria’s Independence Day with the Lekki toll gate the venue of convergence.

However, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also planned a rally taking off at the Lekki toll gate, a development that set up both oppositions for a possible clash.

On Wednesday, justice Daniel Osiagor also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

Justice Osiagor made these orders 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 also held that while the rally cannot stop at the Lekki toll gate, it can pass through the venue to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which the rally plans to meet.

A preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could however not be entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served.

The court adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit to November 4th.