Court declines to disqualify Edema as NNPP governorship candidate in Ondo

Justice Oluyemi Osadebey of the Ondo State High Court, Akure, on Thursday, set aside the suit challenging the nomination of Mr. Olugbenga Edema as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the state.

The judge held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by a factional candidate of the NNPP, Mr. Michael Akintan, and his deputy, Mrs. Kemi Fasua.

They are challenging the emergence of Edema as the party’s candidate for the election.

Edema, a former lawmaker, emerged as the NNPP candidate on June 5, after the former candidate, Mr. Oluwatosin Ayeni, stepped down for him.

He chose Dr. Rotimi Adeyemi as his running mate.

Ayeni was later made the official spokesman for the candidate and the Director-General of the NNPP Gubernatorial Campaign Council in Ondo State.

However, in an originating summons, the quartet of Akintan, Fasua, Dr. Gilbert Agbo, and Comrade Oginni Olaposi, questioned the emergence of Edema as the candidate of NNPP and his running mate.

READ ALSO: Ayeni, Ondo NNPP governorship candidate withdraws from race

In the suit filed by their counsel, Mr. Monday Mawah, the plaintiffs sought the court’s judgment on whether in light of Sections 77 (2) and 77(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, the party was required to submit the register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) no later than 30 days before the party’s primary.

The primary election was held on April 26.

They also asked the court to determine whether the defendant whose name did not appear in the submitted register of the party could validly claim membership in the party at the time of the election based on section 77(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

But the defendants through their lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Olorunfemi, asked the court to dismiss the suit for constituting a gross abuse of the court process.

In her judgment, Justice Osadebey dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

She said since the case fell within the pre-election matter, it was only the Federal High Court that could entertain it.

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