TheCable

Jimi Lawal, a governorship hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun, has denied forging the delegates’ list used for the primaries in the state.

Lawal said this in a letter by his lawyer, Deji Enisenyin, in response to a petition to anti-graft agencies.

The PDP in Ogun had reportedly petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the alleged forgery of the delegates’ list by Lawal.

Amid the development, TheCable had reported how the party expelled Lawal and his associates for “gross misconduct, forgery, anti-party activities and disobedience to the PDP constitution”.

In the response, Lawal denied the allegation.

“Our Client denies ever involving in perjury, forgery, colluding or inducing public officials (INEC officials),” the letter reads.

“The immediate reaction of our client to the letters is that the PDP and Mr Ladi Adebutu are beginning to see reality that they can run but cannot hide in view of the cogent and the verifiable evidence on the issues at hand.

“As confirmed by the PDP’s lawyer in the letter dated 27th of October, 2022 to the Chairman of I.N.E.C., the issue of the party governorship primary election was a subject of litigation in a suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/—/2022 between Otunba Jimi Lawal v. Peoples Democratic Party; Mr. Ladi Adebutu and Independent National Electoral Commission and suit number FHC/AB/CS/87/2022 between Olabode Taiwo Idris & 2ors v. Peoples Democratic Party and 6 ors.

“The two cases mentioned above are presently on appeal before the appellate Courts at different stages, there is therefore no essence to comment on them.

“It is elementary knowledge that once litigants have submitted their grievances to a Court of competent jurisdiction, the issues so submitted before the Court becomes subjudice for all intent and purposes. So, why comment on it?

“Our Client has however considered it necessary to make a rejection to the malicious letters cum publication to the reasonable members of the public not to fall victim of the false information.

“It is on record that in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/ /2022 between Otunba Jimi Lawal v. Peoples Democratic Party and 2 ors, the P.D.P. and Mr. Ladi Adebutu, in their responses filed to the summons of client, claimed that statutory delegates were delegates that voted in the governorship primary election the party has decided to recognise.

“For the purpose of clarity, the Electoral Act, 2022 never envisaged statutory delegates to vote in any primary election for any aspirant.

“The P.D.P. had congress throughout the federation to produce delegates to vote in the primary election of the party held on the 30th of April, 2022. During that exercise in Ogun State, I.N.E.C. monitored the delegate congress in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. I.N.E.C. issued a report on the delegate congress monitored.

“The delegates that emerged during the delegate congress were not statutory delegates. The Electoral Act, 2022 never envisaged statutory delegate.

“A former federal lawmaker in his processes filed to defend the illegality in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2022 has exhibited on oath that statutory delegates voted for him during the 25th May, 2022 primary election.

“One does not need a legal practitioner to interpret the consequence of such election. The party is bound to recognise the votes of the delegates that emerged during the delegates congress, as monitored by I.N.E.C. at the primary election.”

Meanwhile, a federal high court in Abeokuta, the Ogun capital, has nullified the parallel governorship primaries that produced Adebutu and Segun Sowunmi as candidates for the party.

The court ruling followed a suit filed by Lawal to contest the delegates’ list that the Sikirulahi Ogundele faction of the party used during the primary that produced Adebutu.