Osun 2018: Court to deliver ruling on interim injunction against Adeleke’s candidacy Thursday

AN Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Wednesday adjourned ruling till Thursday (tomorrow) on a suit filed to set aside the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship won by Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The suit with reference no HOS/19/03/2018 was filed before the court by the members of the PDP, namely, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwasegun Idowu who were the plaintiffs.

Joined in the suit as defendants are Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke as the (1st), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (2nd), Chief Uche Secondus (3rd ), Soji Adagunodo (4th) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC as the 5th defendant.

The plaintiffs, in a 29 page affidavit sought an “interim order setting aside the election at the 2nd defendant governorship election party’s primaries held on the 21st of July, 2018 of the 1st defendant as Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the Osun State 2018 governorship election the 1st defendant not having not satisfied the requirement of S. 177 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as (Amended) by possessing and providing his secondary school leaving certificate pending the hearing of the substantive suit”.

They also sought, among others an “order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant from presenting himself to the 2nd. 4th defendants as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Osun State 2018 governorship election not having met constitutional requirement of S. 177 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) by possessing and providing his secondary school leaving certificate pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Olufemi Ayandokun contended that his client was ready to present eight exhibits to support their affidavit. The counsel to the defendants is Barrister Edmond Biri contended that “the last day to submit the names had lapsed, stressing that “what we are saying is that we be heard and let them serve us motion on notice.”

But, the presiding Justice David Oladimeji declined to deliver ruling on the matter, saying “I can’t deliver ruling today, it is impossible”. He subsequently adjoined ruling till tomorrow.”