INEC Obeys Court Order, to Publish List of Kasamu’s Candidates

• Decision a huge compromise, PDP alleges

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has notified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of its decision to publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of Ogun State PDP in pursuant to the orders until it is set aside.

The Federal High Court in Abeokuta had on October 2, 2018 ordered the Commission to recognise Dayo-led PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.

But in a swift reaction by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the decision of the electoral body was not acceptable by the party, adding that the party was already in court to appeal the judgment.

INEC in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus titled, ‘Nomination of Candidates for 2019 General Elections In Ogun State’, and signed by the Ag. Secretary to the Commission, Okechukwu Ndeche said it would recognise the faction loyal to Senator Buruji Kasamu based on the court order.

The letter written to the party on October 25, 2018 and received on October 30, 2018 by the party read in part: “The Commission wishes to draw your attention to the decisions of the Federal High Court in the under listed cases:

FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 Mr. Adebayo Dayo and Anor vs INEC and five others; FHC/L/CFS/114/2018 Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju(Member PDP National Working committee) and six others. vs INEC and 30 others; FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Mr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) and eight others vs INEC and three others.”

“The Federal High Court in Abeokuta had on October 12, 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016, Mr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) and 8 others vs INEC and three others also order the Commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo- led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.”

“The Federal High Court in the matters ordered the Commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo- led State Executive Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019 Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the said committee.”

“You will recall that the Commission vide a letter dated April 12, 2018 informed your party of the Commission’s compliance with the judgments of the Federal High Court in Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 -Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC and fiver others and FHC/L/CS/1856/2017Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, member PDP National Working committee) and 6 others vs INEC and 30 others, which affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit No Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 which is subsisting until it is set aside.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby notes the decisions of the Federal High Court in the above referred cases and will publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo led State Executive Committee of Ogun State pursuant to the Orders of the Federal High Court until they are set aside.”

Ologbondiyan stressed: “If it claimed that it collected any list outside what the national secretariat of PDP submitted to it, it is a huge compromise. And we say so according to our statutes and all the laws governing elections in Nigeria, INEC cannot take a list from a state of the party. INEC takes list from the national headquarters of the party.

“So if it claimed that it had gone to take any list from anywhere, it is unknown to us and it is unknown to the rule guiding elections in Nigeria. They acknowledged all the names that we submitted to them. So, it is to totally strange, unknown to the rules and unknown to the PDP that INEC is claiming that it has another list. We are not aware.”

Meanwhile, in the form EC.25C submitted by the party to INEC on October 18, 2018, the party’s candidates for Ogun are: Hon. Jelil K. Amusan, for Ogun Central, Barr. Ajibola Kalejaye, Ogun East and Bankole Durotolu D. Ogun West.

According to the document, Form CF 002 list of Members House of Representative Candidates submitted to INEC are: Aderinnokun David Olumide, Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode, Owolabi Kola Balogun, Abeokuta South, Mustapha Sikirulai Adekunle, Ado Odo/Ota, Mrs Ayodele Mujidat Balogun, Egbado North/Imeko Afon, Mrs Wuraola Arojo, Egbado South/Ipokia, Hon. Abuodun Fagbamila, Ifo/Ewekoro, Harrison Adeyemi, Ijebu North/East/Ogun Waterside, Hon. Rasaq Olukemi, Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North East and Oluwole Bolarinwa, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North.