Osun Election: Court clears Adeleke as PDP’s candidate

The Osun state High Court presided over by Justice David Oladimeji, has dismissed a suit challenging the eligibility of Senator Ademola Adeleke to be the flag bearer of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in the September 22, governorship election in the state.
The plaintiffs, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, who are members of PDP, had approached the court, seeking an order of the court to declare Senator Adeleke ineligible to represent the party in the coming election.
They urged the court to restrain PDP from presenting him to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as candidate of the party, because of the circumstances that heralded his emergence.
In its ruling, the court held that the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr.
Olufemi Ayandokun, failed to address the issue against the defendant as pleaded in the originating summon.
He said the plaintiff also failed to prove the ingredients but only relied on the documents as presented to the court.
Justice Oladimeji submitted that the case lacks merit and is accordingly strikes it out.
Responding to the judgment, Counsel to the defendant, Mr.
Edmund Biriomoni, applauded the court and described the judgment as a well considered ruling.
Two members of the PDP in the state, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, had challenged the primary election of the party won by Adeleke, contending that he did not satisfy the constitutional requirements to contest the governorship election.
Adeleke was declared winner in the PDP primary election held on July 21 having scored 1,569 votes to beat his closest rival, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, who polled 1,562.