Abuja: Justice Saulawa of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has set aside Justice Okon Abang’s ruling that gave INEC order to publish Jimoh Ibrahim’s name as Ondo PDP canditate for Saturday’s election.
He also sacked Jimoh as the party’s candidate while restoring Jegede as the true candidate for the party.
The Appeal Court said principle of natural justice demands that all sides are given fair hearing and that Abang had no jurisdiction to order INEC order to publish Jimoh’s name as Ondo PDP candidate.
More is said that Ibrahim’s so called Ibadan primaries is a sham according to constitutional provisions.
Makarfi-led PDP faction hails Court of Appeal judgment
The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP has commended the Court of Appeal for its judgment recognising its candidate Eyitayo Jegede as the party’s candidate in the Nov. 26 Ondo governorship election.
Mr Dayo Adeyeye, the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, said the judgment was proof that what transpired at the lower court was miscarriage of justice.
Adeyeye made the remark in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja. The Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa on Tuesday set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court recognising Jimoh Ibrahim as PDP candidate in the Ondo state guber poll.
The Appeal Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Ibrahim’s name with Eyitayo Jegede as PDP candidate for the Saturday’s election.
Adeyeye said the party appreciated the Nigerian judiciary for “standing behind truth as it affects the attempt by enemies within working in consonance with some jittery and desperate opposition members.’’
Makarfi Makarfi He said that the aim of the enemies was to thwart PDP’s participation in the Ondo State governorship election. Adeyeye said that the judgments delivered by the Supreme Court and that of the Court of Appeal had rekindled the hope of the common man in the judiciary.
He said: “this shows that justice might be delayed, but will surely come provided the oppressed refuse to give up on his rights. “The judgment delivered by the Justice Salauwa-led Appeal Court Panel which returned the validly elected candidate of our party, to his rightful place was expected.
“It was expected because we were sure that the travesty of justice carried out at the lower court will in any sane society, not stand the test of time.’’
Adeyeye added that it was gratifying to note that all the seven issues before the Appeal panel as relates to the illegal substitution of the factions’ candidate, were decided in favour of Eyitayo Jegede.
“This goes to prove that what transpired at the lower court was a miscarriage of justice. ‘’ Adeyeye expressed hope that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would toe the line of the Court of Appeal by postponing the Saturday election by a minimum of two weeks.
He said the postponement would allow the faction’s candidate to inform the people of the state his programmes for them through campaigns. He expressed hope that the rest issues before the court as it affects the PDP would be treated with dispatch and justice served. Meanwhile, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led PDP candidate, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, said he was certain of getting justice at the Supreme Court.
Ibrahim accused the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko of paying for the judgment with the state treasury.
“I have read the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered today. “We have nothing to lose as the Supreme Court seat on the same case tomorrow. “We shall get justice at the Supreme Court and if PDP wins Saturday election we shall have our four years mandate to rule Ondo State,’’ Ibrahim said.
Fayose calls for Election Postponment
As Justice Ibrahim Saulawa-led Appeal panel , on Wednesday declared Eyitayo Jegede as the rightful candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo Governorship poll, the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has commended the verdict, but pointed out that the time was against its party to be able to make headway in the poll.
Fayose , who craved for the postponement of the poll as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did in Edo State Governorship election, added that INEC in cahoots with the All Progressives Congress(APC) had succeeded in undermining the strength of the party through this unwarranted judicial impediment.
The governor, who reacted to the judgement delivered in Abuja setting aside the earlier judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, which had earlier ordered INEC to substitute Jegede’s name, said the postponement remains the best option, if INEC is truly an
unbiased umpire.
Justice Abang had a couple of weeks ago ordered the electoral commission to enlist the name of a business mogul, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, as the candidate of the PDP in replacement for Jegede.
Fayose said: “The judgement shouldn’t have been otherwise, because you can’t cover the truth. I have said it ab initio that charlatans in the PDP are colluding with INEC and APC to undermine our party.
“INEC has no reason in the first instance to change Jegede’s name. So, this mistake was caused by INEC. It was an INEC making and the best way to for it is for the election to be postponed. This is not the best of time for us in the PDP and the good people of Ondo State .
This is not the best time this judgement should have come.
“But we are still looking for Nigeria of our own, I mean Nigeria where there will be fairness and equity. It is regrettable that some charlatans can be colluding with INEC and APC to destroy our party.
This is very regrettable and unfortunate. But they will still be defeated.
“The commission has no reason not to postpone this election , because what the INEC did was a deliberate action to weaken our party.
“This judgement coming at this time is a major setback for our party, which I believe can only be cured if this election is postponed”, Fayose concluded.
Fayose appealed to members of the PDP in Ondo State to be calm and have resolve in the party’s leadership to weather the storm and come out stronger.
