A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Thursday nullified the election of Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade as House of Representatives candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, while it upheld the candidature of the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola a.k.a Yayi.
The trial judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo in nullifying the House Representatives primary that threw up Akinlade as candidate of the APC, declared it as “irregular, null and void.” The Court held that Akinlade never paid for an expression interest and nomination form or got screened by the APC within the time prescribed by the party in respect of the National Assembly primary election for 2023 election.
The Court therefore ordered fresh primary within 14 days to select and nominate candidate for Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency seat 2023. It also restrained APC and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Akinlade as House of Representatives candidate for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency. The Court also held that Akinlade who was designated as second defendant, should be excluded from participating in the fresh primary election.
The suit was filed by an aggrieved aspirant and candidate; Chief Michael Adebayo Adeleke against three defendants – the APC, Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade and INEC. Chief Adeleke had through his counsel, George Oyeniyi, prayed the Court to declare that the primary election conducted on May 27th 2022 at Orona Hall, Ilaro by APC to select candidate for House of Representatives did not follow the party’s guidelines.
The Court noted that given the period Akinlade was first a senatorial aspirant to when he withdrew his interest in the Senate to join the race for the House of Representatives ticket, the time was already outside the window allowed by the party’s time table and could never have possibly bought an expression of interest form or be screened by the party.
In the same vein, Justice Oguntoyinbo dismissed the suit challenging the selection and nomination of Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola as APC Senatorial candidate for Ogun West.
The case was instituted against Senator Adeola by the out- going Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Tolu Odebiyi. In his judgement, Justice Oguntoyinbo held that Odebyi’s suit lacked merit and was thereby dismissed. The Judge further advised that the likes of Senator Tolu Odebiyi should henceforth desist from attempting to take irrational steps to mislead the Court of Law.
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