TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that Ladi Adebutu remains its governorship candidate in the Ogun governorship election.

The party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Adebutu as its authentic candidate and delist Buruji Kashamu who had been named as the candidate.

Adebutu and Kashamu had been at loggerheads over the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

INEC recently recognised Kashamu’s camp to participate in the upcoming elections, after an FCT high court had struck out a suit against his candidature.

In a statement on Thursday, the PDP asked INEC to recognise the court of appeal ruling which nullified the earlier judgement that recognised Kashamu’s candidature.

“The PDP cautions the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to insulate the commission from unnecessary controversies by immediately obeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal of December 18, 2018, and without further delay reflect Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name on the ballot, in the interest of a hitch free and peaceful election in Ogun state,” the statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan read.

“The PDP states that Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s name was duly and statutorily submitted to INEC after he won the governorship primary conducted by the National Working Committee (NWC), the only body empowered by law to conduct such primaries. The PDP has not substituted his nomination with anybody and such is not in our contemplation.

“The PDP charges the INEC Chairman to note that since the ruling of the Court of Appeal validating Hon. Ladi Adebutu as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun state, no other court, not even the Supreme Court has over turned that extant ruling.

“INEC is therefore compelled to obey the law. It cannot choose for itself which judgment to obey and cannot operate in waiting, anticipation or contemplation of a non-existent consideration in the conduct of the Ogun governorship election.”