By Nicholas Ojo
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on Monday, reinstated Ladi Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun.
The Court set aside a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, ordering the conduct of fresh primaries by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital had in September, nullified all primaries conducted by the various factions of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State.
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The presiding judge, Justice O. O. Oguntoyibo, called for a rerun of the primaries within 14 days.
The court declared that all the primaries conducted by the PDP in the state were not in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Oguntoyinbo stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising Ladi Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
The suit was filed by Prince Adesegun Seriki and three others against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP.
Prince Seriki and his Co – plaintiffs sought the Court’s explicit order to enforce their rights as the rightful and legitimate PDP candidates for the 2023 general elections in Ogun State.
The two factions of the PDP had conducted parallel primaries that produced Oladipupo Adebutu and Segun Sowunmi as candidates of the party in the 2023 governorship election.
However, Justice Folasade Ojo in her ruling on Monday, noted that it is only the National Working Committee of the party that has the power to nominate and conduct a primary election.
The appellate court maintained that any primary conducted without the approval of the party’s NWC is null and void.
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The lower court’s judgment was set aside for lack of jurisdiction.
Ojo directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to reinstate all PDP candidates.