OGUN 2019: Court reiterates orders mandating PDP, INEC to recognise delegates, candidates endorsed by Adebayo Dayo-led Exco

The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Friday reiterated its order directing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and process only the list of delegates and candidates submitted by the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in respect of the 2018 National Convention of the party and the 2019 general election.

The Dayo-led Exco is backed by the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu.

The court delivered a ruling on Friday in an application seeking to set aside the orders made by the court on the 2nd of October, 2018 compelling all the defendants, including INEC and PDP to accept and recognise the Adebayo Dayo- led Exco of the PDP.

While handing down the ruling, the court dismissed the application seeking to set aside the order of the 2nd of October, 2018 and proceeded to reaffirm the orders.

The court further stated that it did not give any order stopping the National Convention of the PDP but only directed the party to accord recognition to the list of delegates attached as Schedule A to the motion for interlocutory injunction.

For the avoidance of doubt, the court ordered all the defendants to accord recognition to the plaintiffs' list of delegates and candidates.

With this order, the PDP and the commission are duty bound to accept and process the list of delegates and candidates submitted by the Dayo-led Exco. Anything short of this wound render nugatory the outcome of the convention.

Observers are of the view that the latest ruling by the court affords the PDP to show that it has rebranded by obeying the court orders and save itself the hassles of exposing the National Convention to needless danger and risk of going against various subsisting judgments and orders in favour of the Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive.