Comrade Deji Adeyanju and Patriot Patrick Eholor's suit against President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Rhoda Gumus is slated for a hearing on June 14, 2022.
The above suit is over Professor Rhoda Gumus' alleged membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, and her subsequent appointment by President Buhari as an INEC commissioner.
The President of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, INEC, Senate President, and Prof Rhoda Gumus are named in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS /234/2022, which was filed by Abuja-based human rights lawyer Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr on behalf of Deji Adeyanju and Patriot Patrick Eholor. The suit is seeking five distinct reliefs and other ancillary/mandatory consequential injunctions in this regard.
Recall that a few months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari conveyed the name of Prof. Rhoda Gumus to the Nigeria Senate for confirmation as an INEC commissioner.
In his reaction, Deji Adeyanju questioned the rationale for the appointment of Prof Rhoda Gumus, though he recognized Prof. Gumus's professional capabilities.
Mr Adeyanju stated that President Buhari's nomination and subsequent swearing-in of Prof Rhoda Gumus, as well as her appointment, violate paragraph 14 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution as amended, as well as Section 30 of the Electoral Act, which prohibits the appointment of a member of a political party as an INEC Commissioner.
In a letter to the National Assembly, Deji Adeyanju noted that "precisely on March 27, 2021, Prof Rhoda Gumus registered as a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as evidenced in the said letter from Deji Adeyanju concerned Nigeria group and addressed to the Senate of Nigeria, in order to halt/stop Prof Rhoda Gumus's appointment as INEC commissioner."
The letter also pointed out that this development has taken a disturbing pattern, and the letter further reads thus, "A few months ago, President Buhari nominated Mrs Lauretta Onochie as an INEC Commissioner."
As of press time on May 27th, 2022, all parties, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the AGF, INEC, and Prof. Rhoda Gumus, have been served, and this case has been fixed for hearing on the 14th of June 2022.