Ondo PDP Rejects Justice Okon Abang’s Judgment
…Says Eyitayo Jegede Remains Its Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state said it had already taken legal steps by submitting petitions against Justice Okon Abang in order to affirm the validity of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the only candidate of the party for the November 26th 2016 governorship election in the state.
Justice Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Friday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognized Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as candidate of the PDP for the November governorship election.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Ondo state, Clement Faboyede, who spoke with journalists on Saturday at a press briefing in Akure, the state capital, said the judgment was a mere distraction as the party had already began its campaigns.
Mr. Faboyede disclosed that, although, the party was still awaiting the outcome of its petition against the judgment of Justice Abang added that there were many contradiction against the ruling.
“That the attempt to re-write the judgment by changing the date of 2019 general elections as contained in the earlier judgment of 29th June, 2016 and linking it with the Governorship election of 2016, which was never the subject of the earlier suit would certainly be a subject of investigation by the appropriate statutory authorities.
“PDP as a party had earlier submitted petitions against Hon. Justice O.E. Abang. We are still waiting for the outcome of the petition.
“What is happening is a mere distraction. The campaign is going on in full gear. What cannot be secured lawfully cannot be secured through the back door.
“Legal steps have been taken to affirm the validity of his candidature and expose the flaws in the decisions of the Court that are targeted at subverting the will of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the generality of the people of Ondo State.
“That the attempt to re-write the judgment by changing the date of 2019 general elections as contained in the earlier judgment of 29th June, 2016 and linking it with the Governorship election of 2016, which was never the subject of the earlier suit would certainly be a subject of investigation by the appropriate statutory authorities”.
He disclosed that it was a contempt of court proceeding for the presiding judge to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognized the candidature of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the governorship candidate of the party.
“It should be noted that it is a contempt proceedings against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but wherein the presiding Judge directed INEC to receive the nomination papers of Jimoh Ibrahim from the applicants as State Executive of the PDP against the backdrop of numerous decisions of the Supreme Court that it is the National Executive of a political party that has the responsibility to submit names of Candidates to INEC”.
He further disclosed that the forthcoming governorship election of the state was not part of the plaintiffs claim and no reference was made to it in the claim.
“His Lordship’s order made no pronouncement in respect of the status of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as the candidate of PDP.
“Neither did he make reference to the list of candidates published by INEC on the 29th day of September, 2016 subject of the governorship election”, he explained.
Mr. Faboyede, however, maintained that the candidature of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede as the flag bearer of the party was not a suit to any of the processes filed before Justice Okon Abang.
“Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), the PDP Governorship Candidate in Ondo State was not a party to any of the processes filed, no order was also made against him.
“Jimoh Ibrahim referred to in the latest decision was also not a party to the two cases. How then did Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim now become a beneficiary of the decision of His Lordship”, he queried.
The PDP Chairman reiterated that Mr. Jegede remains the lawful candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 26th 2016 governorship election in Ondo state.
