BY Bolanle Olabimtan
A court of appeal in Oyo has set aside a judgment which ordered the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct fresh primaries for its candidates in Ogun state.
O.O Oguntoyinbo, judge of the Ogun federal high court, had on September 27 directed the state executive committee of the PDP to organise new primaries within 14 days.
Delivering judgment on Monday in an appeal filed by the PDP, Folasade Ojo, judge of the appellate court, held that the high court erred.
She held that only the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP has the power to conduct primaries.
THE GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY SAGA
Two factions of the PDP had conducted parallel primaries that produced Oladipupo Adebutu and Segun Sowunmi as candidates of the party for the 2023 governorship election.
The primary which produced Sowunmi was said to have been monitored by officials of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC).
However, the primary which produced Adebutu, a former member of the house of representatives, is recognised by the national leadership of the PDP.
Jimi Lawal, another governorship hopeful, had filed a suit before the Ogun high court to contest the delegate list used by the Sikirulahi Ogundele faction during the primary that produced Adebutu.
Other candidates had also approached the court to challenge the authenticity of the Sikirulahi Ogundele-led executive of the party in the state.
Presided over by Oguntoyinbo, the court had nullified all the governorship primaries conducted by the party in the state and ordered a fresh election.
Delivering judgment on PDP’s appeal, the appellate court overturned the decision of the high court.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had omitted Ogun PDP when it published the list of governorship candidates for the 2023 elections.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court Abuja is expected to deliver judgment on the Ogun PDP governorship ticket on Thursday, December 1.
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