A Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has nullified judgment against all the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Ogun State.
The Court on Monday set aside a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, which sacked all the party candidates in the state and ordered fresh primaries.
Justice O O Oguntoyin of the High Court on September 27 had directed the State Executive Committee of the PDP to conduct fresh primaries within 14 days.
However, subsequent to an appeal filed by the party, Justice Folasade Ojo on Monday ruled that the lower court was wrong in its judgment, saying that only the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP is vested with the power to conduct primaries.
The PDP in Ogun is factionalised with three different candidates parading themselves as governorship candidate but the party’s headquarters in Abuja recognises Ladi Adebutu as the governorship candidate for the 2023 general election.
Meanwhile, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed December 1, 2022 for judgment on the 2023 governorship ticket of the PDP in Ogun.
At the centre of the dispute are Adebutu and Jimi Lawal both governorship aspirants of the PDP who laid claim and counterclaim to the ticket.
Lawal, who contested the May 25 governorship primary of the PDP, had challenged the emergence of Adebutu, alleging that unlawful and invalid delegates list was fraudulently used by the party to conduct the election.
Among others, Lawal had prayed that the purported primary of May 25 be cancelled and another be conducted with the authentic ad hoc delegates.
However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in his judgment delivered on July 29 declined to hear the suit of Lawal on merit on the grounds that the primary was a domestic affair of any political party and dismissed the suit.
The Supreme Court subsequently on November 21 ordered the Federal High Court to hear on merit the suit instituted against PDP and Adebutu by Lawal.
Justice Ibrahim Saulawa of the apex court ordered speedy hearing into the suit after holding that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Justice Ekwo, in compliance with the Supreme Court order, heard the case expeditiously in view of the fact that the case would lapse by December 2.
Justice Ekwo said he will deliver judgment in the suit on December 1, 2022.
