The Federal High Court in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State in western Nigeria, on Tuesday fixed 23 March for the hearing of the preliminary objection to the suit challenging the eligibility of Mr Seyi Makinde as the Social Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate.

Two members of the SDP, Messrs Oluwagbemiga Boyede and Rasak Adegboyega, had dragged Makinde, the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court.

•Seyi Makinde, SDP Candidate

They therefore urged the court to direct INEC not to recognise Makinde as the SDP governorship candidate for the April 11 election.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Justice Ayo Emmanuel adjourned the case till March 23 following the request by counsel to Makinde and SDP to be given time to respond to the plaintiffs’ counter affidavit.

NAN reports that Yakub Fadare, the counsel to Makinde, had raised a preliminary objection to the suit, contending that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

However, the case, which was adjourned to March 9, was stalled because the plaintiffs’ counsel, Adenle Adeloye, failed to serve the counter affidavits on the defendants.