By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti state Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday filed an appeal against the judgement of an Ado-Ekiti High Court, which had earlier dismissed his application challenging its jurisdictional power to try him over his eligibility to contest the June 21 governorship election.
This is just as a coalition of Ekiti Youth and women groups yesterday stormed the court, in protest against the socio-political group, e-11, over the case it instituted against the appellant.
A Socio-Political group, e-11 , represented by one Adeniyi Ajakaiye and the Citizens Popular Party, are challenging the eligibility of Fayose to participate in the governorship election on account of his impeachment on October 16, 2006, by the then House of Assembly for alleged gross misconduct.
In the appeal suit and deposed to by his lead counsel, Ahmed Raji, Fayose averred that the presiding Judge, Justice Segun Ogunyemi, who had reported to have hands off the case, misdirected himself in the ruling that the Court has jurisdiction to hear the case.
Joined in the suit are: Mr Adeniyi Ajakaiye, Mr. Olufemi Ajayi, Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Subsequently, Fayose sought an order setting aside the order of the Lower Court delivered on the 6th June, 2014, abridging the time within which the appellant was to file and serve aq counter-affidavit to the originating summons in this action.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the placard-carrying protesters, Mr Joel Ogunmodede said it would be a great disservice to Ekiti for e-11 to thwart the mandate freely given to Fayose in the June 21 governorship election over frivolous allegation that Fayose .
The protesters, who fumed at the action of the litigants, said there were subterranean efforts being allegedly made by some top government officials “in connivance with these people to scuttle Fayose’s swearing in on October 16,” adding that Ekiti people would resist such action.