INEC REVERSES SELF ON OGUN PDP EXCO

…Recognises Adebayo Dayo-led Exco

The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have been resolved with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversing itself and recognizing the Engr. Adebayo Dayo as the State Chairman of the party.

 

Hitherto, the Commission and the national leadership of the PDP had recognized Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele as the State Chairman of the party, a development that resulted in several litigations, culminating in a recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

 

In a 12th April, 2018 letter entitled “Re: Gross Violation and Disrespect to Subsisting and Valid Judgment of Court by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) With Respect to Recognition of Ogun State Executive Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” and addressed to the law firm of Ricky Tarfa (SAN), INEC said, “The Commission in compliance with the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 delivered on 9th February, 2018 has notified the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party of its compliance with the said judgment.”

 

In a separate letter with the same date and addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, the Commission stated why it decided to reverse itself.

 

The letter, entitled “Re: Ogun State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” reads in part, “You may recall that the National Convention of the PDP on 12th August, 2017 dissolved the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Executive Committee of the PDP and a Congress was conducted at which the current members of the Ogun State Executive Committee were elected.

“After the said congress, the Commission was served with the attached judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos delivered on 9thFebruary, 2018 in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 wherein the Court ordered as follows:

‘I have considered the arguments of counsel on the issues of precedence and abuse of court process and I find myself in disagreement with counsel for the Defendants. The reasons being, first on the argument that the issues raised by the Plaintiff have been dealt with in the case of PDP VS. SHERIFF, this position is untrue and misleading. The primary contention in that case was over the seat of the chairman of the National Caretaker Committee while the issue in this case is regarding the Ogun State delegates representing the party at the National Convention…that the parties herein are bound by the decision of this Court in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/636/2016 delivered by Buba J. on the 24th day of June 2016 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/701/2017 until they are set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction’.

“Consequently, the Commission shall comply with the said judgment of the Federal High Court. Please be guided accordingly.”

It would be recalled that Tarfa had on the 26th of March, 2018 written a letter to the Commission asking it to obey the judgment of the court in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1556/2017.

Also, the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu had on the same date written the Commission over the Ogun State PDP Executive.

Kashamu questioned why the commission was recalcitrant in keeping to its tradition of obeying court orders and judgments until a superior court says otherwise.

 

The lawmaker said the latest judgment had been served on the Commission and wondered why the “the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, was either keeping the judgment away from your office and/or sitting on it”.

 

This was followed by a letter dated 3rd April, 2018, in which Dayo threatened to take some steps against the Commission if his request to reverse itself on the issue of the Ogun State PDP Exco was not granted within a week.

 

Reacting to the Commission’s decision to reverse itself and recognize his Exco, Dayo said, “There was no victor, no vanquished.This is not the time to score cheap political points or celebrate over anyone. The party has won; democracy has won and the Rule of Law has won. It is victory for all our party leaders, elders and members. We all – aspirants, leaders and followers – need to come together and embrace peace and work in unity for the task ahead of us as a party. Let us forget the past and join hands to work for a glorious future,” Dayo said.

He appealed to all aspirants, party leaders and members to come together and work for the interest of the people.

PDP should put its house in order and offer credible opposition to grow our democracy