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ABEOKUTA: A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Tuesday adjourned till May 5, 2025 a suit marked FHC/AB/CA/144/24, seeking an order declaring as invalid, null and void the selection and nomination of Dr. Olusola Akinbode as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the last November 16 local government elections in Ogun State.
The suit followed the compilation of the candidates’ list last year by the APC for the November 16 local government elections.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State had at the time submitted the names of its 20 chairmanship candidates for the local government elections to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC)
In the build – up to the poll, the party listed Hon. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo as the party’s chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta North Local Government, while Hon. Afeez Balogun emerged the chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta South Local Government.
Others were Dr. Akinbode Olusola (Yewa North), Barr. Tunde Ogunsola (Yewa South), Hon. Sikiru Adesina (Ewekoro), Hon. Olalekan Kushimo (Ifo), Hon. Adesina Ogunsola (Obafemi-Owode), Hon. Folashade Adeyemo (Odeda), Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde (Ijebu East), Hon. Bolaji Odusanya (Ijebu North), Hon. Foluso Badejo (Ijebu North-East), Hon. Dare Alebiosu (Ijebu Ode), and Hon. Jamiu Ashimi (Ikenne).
Also listed were Hon. Babatunde Diya (Odogbolu), Hon. Ganiyu Odunnaki (Ogun Waterside), Hon. Muyiwa Sodade (Remo North), Hon. Afolabi Odulate (Sagamu), Hon. Wasiu Lawal (Ado Odo-Ota), Hon. Theophilus Aremu Olorode (Imeko Afon) and Hon. Avoseh Johnson (Ipokia).
The candidates’ list was submitted to OGSIEC following its ratification prior to the election by the APC State Executive Committee during a meeting said to have been attended by the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and party leaders.
All of them have since been sworn – in, having been declared winners in the said local government elections by OGSIEC.
However, The Daily Crucible reports that not satisfied with the arrangement pertaining to Yewa North, the aggrieved aspirant, Gbenga Akinwande who alleged lack of due process in the manner Olusola Akinbode emerged as the APC candidate, decided to approach the court for redress.
In the originating summon dated October 7, 2024, Gbenga Akinwande (the plaintiff), is challenging the selection and nomination of Olusola Akinbode as the Yewa North Council chairmanship candidate of the party.
Also dragged to court alongside Akinbode include the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC).
The two were listed as first and second defendants respectively.
The plaintiff wants the court to determine among other issues, whether the submission by the 1st defendant of the name: Olusola Akinbode to the 2nd defendant (OGSIEC) as its nominated candidate for the Yewa North Council chairmanship election was not in breach of the relevant provisions of the electoral Act and constitution of the APC.
The plaintiff also wants the court to give order for the removal of Olusola Akinbode’s name as candidate for the chairmanship seat and put his (plaintiff) name as the valid candidate of APC for the election that was held November 16 in the state.
The plaintiff claimed that Olusola Akinbode(marked 3rd defendant) did not participate in any selection or nomination process of the APC, adding that the manner he emerged as the party candidate did not follow due process, the APC guidelines and electoral laws
When the case was mentioned on October 16, 2024 before Justice Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court 2, Abeokuta, the defendants were absent and they also did not send lawyers to represent them while John Gbenga Apanishile announced appearance as counsel for the plaintiff.
In the absence of the defendants and their counsel, Justice Adeyemi adjourned the matter till October 29, 2024 for further mention and hearing.
Since the suit was first initiated, it has suffered series of adjournments, including being adjourned till last November 13 for proper service of court processes to the affected parties as the APC filed preliminary objection last year to it (the suit marked FHC/AB/CA/144/24).
However, at the resumed mention of the case on Tuesday, November 25, Chief Gbenga Apanishile announced appearance for the plaintiff and the court adjourned till May 5, 2025 for hearing.
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