By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, has ruled that Senator Ademola Adeleke as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the validly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the party for the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.
The court dismissed a suit filed by Prince Dotun Babayemi, seeking to be declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the July 16th governorship election in Osun state.
The court consequently affirmed Senator Ademola Adeleke as the authentic PDP candidate for the poll.
In his judgment, which took over 1 hour, 30 minutes on Wednesday, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on the 8th of March, 2022, which produced Babayemi was null and void.
According to Justice Nathaniel Ayo Emmanuel, Dotun Babayemi did not participate in the PDP primary election.
Justice Emmanuel, who held that the court could not pick candidates for any political party, also added that it was an internal party issue and therefore the matter was dismissed.
During the PDP gubernatorial primary election held on March 8, the Wale Ojo faction which produced Dotun Babayemi held a parallel primary at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo.
In the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised PDP primary held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as Chairman, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke was declared the winner.
In a list of candidates later released by INEC, Adeleke was recognised as a duly-elected candidate of PDP in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
It was for this reason that Babayemi approached the court to challenge the submission and nomination of Ademola Adeleke by the PDP to INEC and the validity of the primary election conducted at the stadium against the one conducted at WOCDIF.
● Court ruling: This is a teunion in brotherhood, says Adeleke
In a swift riposte to the judgement, Senator Adeleke, described the court ruling as a clarion call for reunion in brotherhood for collective victory in July.
In a statement he personally signed and issued on Wednesday, Senator Adeleke said the ruling on the protracted legal battles among brothers in PDP presented all party stakeholders with a unique opportunity to join hands to electorally defeat the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“Today marks the continuation of local, zonal and national efforts to bring together all leaders of our great party in Osun. Few days ago, I met my brother, Dotun Babayemi and other leaders of the party. The process of peace building was strengthened on that day. And today presents a conclusive opportunity for us to bury the hatchet and raise the common flag of the party.
“I call on our leaders across the caucuses to recommit to the peace process. As for me and the entire Imole team, we are ever ready to restore old alliances and build new ones to ensure the return to power of our great party in July 16.
“Let me restate as I have always noted that we are not enemies. We are brothers and we must re-establish the bond of brotherhood as we prepare to battle our common enemy, the APC,” Senator Adeleke stated.
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