- 18 - 6.8. PLAINTIFFS’ REPLY TO THE 4TH AND 5TH DEFENDANTS PRELIMINARY APPLICATIONS 6.8.1. This Application is based on the failure of the Nigerian State to appropriately uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of the Plaintiff from being violated and trampled upon and refused to allow the Plaintiff’s right of equality before the law and to participate at electioneering processes that prevents their participation in the Government of Nigeria through due election of their representatives at such elections. 6.8.2. The use of the State House as the symbol of Government of Nigeria to organize a presidential fund raising dinner under any guise for the 3rd Defendant is a violation of the Plaintiffs’ right to freely participate at the 2015 presidential election as the said raising of N21.27 Billion further violated the Plaintiffs’ right to elect their representatives into the Government of Nigeria on the basis of equality of presidential candidates before the laws of the land. 6.8.3. The Application touching on the violation of rights of the Plaintiffs’ presidential candidates and the 3rd Defendant as the personification of the Presidency in which Nigeria is the constituency as provided by law is a typical case involving the critical state actors of which the presidential aspirations and rights of the Plaintiffs and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants who represents the State as the major violators of the Plaintiffs human rights as guaranteed by the African Charter are the real issues at stake. 6.8.4. It is undisputed fact that a fund raising dinner held in a State House after the nomination of the 3rd Defendant who is the 4th Defendant’s presidential candidate at the 2015 presidential elections has no other implication other than an abuse of use of the State Power in violation of the rights of the Plaintiffs and intimidations to scare off a balance competition and the voting populace in their favor to the Plaintiffs’ detriment. 6.8.5. The abuse of the use of the state power to intimidate the Plaintiffs right to freely participate in that election is complete with the listing of state agencies, contractors and parastatals to donate to the 3rd Defendant rival Plaintiffs’ presidential candidate at the 2015 presidential election using the State House Banquet Hall in full glare of the world and live to intimidate the Plaintiffs out of the presidential contest as scheduled.