Oladipupo Adebutu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised the list of candidates for the 2019 general elections submitted to it by the Mr Adebayo Dayo led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Ogun State.

The Commission in it order to the Federal High court stated that it has received the list of candidates for the Governorship , National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the executive committee, which is believed to be loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu, representing Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State at the National Assembly.

In a letter dated October 25th, 2019 signed by Mr Okechukwu Ndeche , the Acting Secretary to the Commission and to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the Commission stated that the decision was based on the various Federal High Court cases on the authentic State Executive Committee of the party until they were set aside.

According to the letter which was received at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja “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,” INEC said in the letter titled “NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN OGUN STATE.

The letter reads, “The Commission wishes to draw your attention to the decisions of the Federal High Court in the under listed cases:

(1)FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors.

(Z) FHC/L/CFS/114/2018 Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju(Member PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors.

(3) FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) & 8 Ors. vs INEC & 3 Ors

“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 12th April, 2018 informed your party of the Commission’s compliance with the judgements of the Federal High Court in Suit Nos. FHC/L/CFS/636/2016 -Engr. Adebayo Dayo & Anor vs INEC & 5 Ors. and FHC/L/CS/1856/2017Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju Member PDP National Working committee) and 6 Ors. vs INEC and 30 Ors. 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

“Further to the above decision, the Federal High Court Abeokuta Division on 2nd October 2018 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CFS/636/2016 Engr. Adebayo Dayo (State Chairman) 8: 8 Ors. vs iNEC & 3 Ors. also 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.

“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”.

It would be recalled that ‎the National Executive Committee, NEC of the Party had earlier expelled Senator Kashamu, Adebayo Dayo and two members of the Ogun State chapter of the party over alleged anti-party activities which was later overturned by the court.

In a reaction to INEC’s decision, Senator Buruji Kashamu commended the Commission and the leadership of the party for the recognition of the Engr. Adebayo Dayo Ogun PDP Exco, stating that in a clear obedience to subsisting court judgments, “our candidates list has been accepted, processed and certified for the forthcoming elections”.

He, however, called on party elders, leaders and teeming supporters to embark on massive mobilisation and reconciliation for successful outing at the polls.

Assuring party members of Victory in the forthcoming elections, he advocated for “No victor, No vanquished” disposition amongst party members, saying, “we shall all reap from the electoral fortune that will be ours at the 2019 general election.”

Meanwhile, the National leadership of PDP is yet to react to the decision of INEC.

It will be recalled that two factions of the Ogun PDP held two parallel governorship primaries to elect governorship flag bearers for the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

The group recognised by the National body of the PDP held its primaries at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) where Hon. Ladi Adebutu emerged as the candidate. Mr Adeleke Shittu had emerged as the Governorship Candidate of the party in a parallel exercise organised by Sen.  Kasamu.

Mr Dayo, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kasamu-led faction, said the exercise conducted by the group was authentic. “The law is on our side until the judgment we had in 2016 is set aside.

“We have a judgment that compels the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept only candidates that emerge from primaries conducted by our group.

“The other faction had tried twice to set the judgment aside but the Court of Appeal had dismissed their appeal.

“We do know that the National body does not recongise our group but I am sure that eventually, the rule of law will prevail because Nigeria’s constitution supersedes the party’s constitution,” he said.