A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole today refused to grant an ex parte injunction against the Senate from recognising Chief Godswill Akpabio as its Minority Leader.

Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Alaye Pedro and Dr. Okechukwu Ibeh, had sought an order restraining the Senate President, Dr. Bukola ‎Saraki, and members of the PDP caucus from the South-South in the Senate from appointing Senator Akpabio as Senate Minority Leader by a procedure which they claimed was in breach of the Senate Standing Order.

‎Ruling on the matter, Justice Kolawole queried the locus standi of the applicants and went further to dismiss the applicants’ relief of an interim order restraining the Senate President and the Senate PDP Caucus from selecting Senator Akpabio as Senate Minority Leader.

The judge however granted the applicants prayer of an order of substituted service of processes by publication in two national newspapers and consequently adjourned the matter to October 5, 2015‎ for mention.

•Photo shows Senator Akpabio.