…PDP alleges INEC display huge compromise
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost the party machinery in Ogun State to Senator Buruji Kashamu following a Federal High Court ruling.
Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to publish names of Governorship and State Assembly candidates submitted by their relatives, Adebayo Dayo-led State executive.
The Electoral Commission had in a letter dated October 25th, 2018 addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP and received on Tuesday, October 30th, 2018 titled : Nomination of Candidates for 2019 General Election in Ogun State,
notified that party of its intention to obey the ruling ordering it to recognise the Engr. Adebayo Dayo PDP State executive in the state and to subsequently publish names of candidates submitted by the executive for the 2019 elections into governorship and State House of Assembly seats.
In the letter referenced INEC/LEG/DR/197/1/514 signed by Okechukwu Ndeche, acting Secretary to the Commission, INEC drew the attention to the decisions of the Federal High Court in three different cases:
FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors; FHC/L/CFS/114/2018 Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju(Member PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors and FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) & 8 Ors. vs INEC & 3 Ors.
The Commission stated that it was ordered by the Federal High Court in the matters to recognise Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.
It recall that the Commission vide a letter dated 12‘” April, 2018 informed the party of the Commission’s compliance with the judgements of the Federal High Court in Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 -Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors.
and FHC/L/CS/1856/2017Alhaji Adewole AdeyanjulMember PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors. which affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit No Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 which is subsisting until it is set aside.
Further to the above decision, INEC said the Federal High Court Abeokuta Division on 2“” October 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) 8: 8 Ors. vs iNEC & 3 Ors.
also ordered it to recognise Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.
Consequently upon the decisions of the Federal High COurt in the above referred cases, INEC said it will publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of Ogun State pursuant to the Orders of the Federal High Court until they are set aside.
The party, however, dismissed INEC claims, accused the Electoral body of displaying huge compromise if it truly received another list of candidates from the state chapter.
Its national publicity Secretary, Kola Olgbondiyan while tendering list of the party’s candidates in Ogun State to journalists, said it is wrong for INEC to receive list of candidates from the state chapter as only the National secretariat of the party that has the right to do so
“It is unknown to us and to all laws guiding election in Nigeria. The state chapter of any party does not organise primary elections. Or is INEC shopping for candidates list from State chapter?
“INEC should endeavour to demonstrate its fairness and credibility. If there is any crisis, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu should take full responsibility”, he said.
He said the party is already in court over the matter.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.