Court fixes Dec 1 for judgment on Ogun PDP guber ticket

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed December 1 for judgment in the legal battle over the governorship ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo fixed the date Thursday after taking arguments from parties in the disputed ticket.

Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal and Oladipupo Adebutu are laying claim and counterclaim to the state PDP ticket.

Lawal who contested the May 25 governorship primary election of PDP had challenged the emergence of Adebutu, alleging that unlawful and invalid delegate’s list was used to conduct the election.

Among others, Lawal prayed that the purported primary election of May 25 be cancelled and another 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 election was a domestic affair of any political party.

The Supreme Court had however, 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.

At the Thursday’s proceedings, 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 that he would do everything humanly possible to deliver judgment in the suit on December 1.