The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, and Labour Party, Chief Great Ogboru, on Thursday scaled through another hurdle.
The bid by the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to prevent them from contesting the April 11 election suffered a setback at the Federal High Court, Asaba.
The PDP had prepared for accelerated hearing in the matter before its hope was dashed.
Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun Ishola gave a leave to counsels to the defendants to go and prepare their defence.
Ishola adjourned further hearing in the matter till April 17.
This will be after the election must have been conducted on April 11.
Joined in the suit also are the Independent National Electoral Commission, the political parties of the candidates and 95 others.
The ruling party in the state had a fortnight ago in suit number FHC/CS/28/2015 challenged the eligibility Ogboru, Emerhor and the candidates of the Accord Party to participate in the governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state.
The party prayed the court to disqualify the candidates of the three political parties standing for the elections on the ground that their parties violated sections 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
But at the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Ishola, who decried the sluggish manner of the counsels to the APC, AP and LP in the case, warned them to ensure that they comply with the new legal practice.
She maintained that lawyers must file in all the necessary applications, including affidavits, counter affidavits, objections, before the commencement of hearing.
She said: “The matter has been set out for hearing today.
“I hate what is going on now.
“I cannot continue to adjourn your matter endlessly.
“It seems you people are not ready to prosecute this matter.”
Before Ishola ordered accelerated hearing in the matter and adjourned the matter till April 17 for hearing, she threatened not to help any defaulting counsel who falls prey of the new legal procedure.