The Independent National Electoral Commission has written a letter to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, recognising the list of candidates for the 2019 general elections submitted to it by the Mr Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the party in Ogun State.
In the letter, the commission also stated that it had received the list of candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections from the committee.
The Dayo-led committee is believed to be loyal to the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu.
In the letter dated October 25, 2019, signed by the acting Secretary to the Commission, Mr Okechukwu Ndeche, to Secondus, the Commission stated that the decision was based on the various Federal High Court cases on the true position of the State Executive Committee of the party.
He said the commission would abide by them until they were set aside by higher courts.
The letter, which was received at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Tuesday, read in part, “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.”
The letter, which was titled “nomination of candidates for 2019 general elections in Ogun State”, named three cases to buttress its decision.
The letter added, “The Federal High Court in the matters ordered the commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State and receive a list of candidates for the 2019 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections from the said committee
“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 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) and 8 Ors. vs INEC & 3 Ors., also ordered the commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo-led State Executive Committee of the PDP in Ogun State and receive a 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.”
Kashamu hails INEC, PDP over decision
In his reaction, Kashamu commended the commission and expressed hope that the leadership of the party would respect the commission’s decision.
Kashamu stated that in clear obedience to subsisting court judgments, “our candidates’ list has been accepted, processed and certified for the forthcoming elections.”
No, we are in court –PDP
However, the PDP said it would appeal the decision of the commission.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was wrong for the state chapter of the party to sell nomination forms.
He said, “The decision of the commission is unknown to us and to all laws guiding election in Nigeria. The state chapter of any party does not organise primary elections. Or is INEC shopping for candidates list from state chapters?.
“INEC should endeavour to demonstrate its fairness and credibility. If there is any crisis, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, should take full responsibility. We are already in court over the matter.”
Meanwhile, the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr Ladi Adebutu, on Tuesday, insisted that he was the only one recognised by INEC to contest the 2019 governorship election in the state, on the party’s platform.
In a statement made available to The PUNCH, Adebutu said, “We have absolute confidence in the Uche Secondus led-National Working Committee and we trust that they will leave no stone unturned to protect the interest of our members and candidates in Ogun State.”
“The Adebayo Dayo led-executive did not conduct primaries that conformed to the provisions of the PDP constitution and electoral guidelines in the state.”
PUNCH
