PRIMARIES: Khalil Mustapha, Kayode Adanla, 18 Others, Drag Oyo A.P.C, INEC, Aspirants To Court
No end seems to be in sight over the crisis rocking the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress as no fewer than 20 cases have presently been instituted against both the National leadership of the party and it’s state chapter in Oyo state.
The cases arising from the recently held party primaries and Congress elections is challenging the fallout of the said party shadow elections.
Investigations by the Guardian also revealed that hearing resumed on Wednesday 29th June, 2022 at the Federal High court sitting in Ibadan before Justice Uche Agomo, in one of such cases instituted against the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (A.P.C), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Musiliu Olaide Akinremi by a chieftain of the party in Oyo state, Hon. Khalil Mustapha.
The case which is premised against the backlash of the outcome of the purported primary election of the Ibadan North federal constituency of Oyo state is asking the court amongst other things, declare as null and void whatever action must have been purportedly taken by the first respondent relating to the nomination of candidate for the All Progressives Congress in Ibadan North federal constituency in the forthcoming 2023 general election by compelling all relevant bodies to conduct fresh primary election based on the guidelines of both the first and second respondents on the basis of evidence brought before the court by the appellant.
Earlier at its first sitting on the 12th of June, 2022, lead counsel to the claimant/applicant Sanyaolu S. Akinyele had informed the court that all processes relating to the matter including the writ of summons, hearing notice to wit had been served on both the 1st & 2nd respondents while the 3rd respondent in the person of Musiliu Olaide Akinremi has been evading service by the court Bailiff, thereby urging the court in an exparte application dated 21st of June, 2022, which he filed to grant an order of substituted service on Musiliu Olaide Akinremi (3rd respondent) by publishing same in a widely circulated National newspaper, specifically the Nigerian Tribune, an application which was granted by the court.
At the resumed hearing, Festus Adesiyan, counsel to claimant/Applicant standing in for the Lead counsel Sanyaolu S. Akinyele informed the court that the order of substituted service on the 3rd defendant ( Musiliu Olaide Akinremi) with the inclusion of all other defendants have been effected by substituted means as ordered by the court and that an affidavit of service has been filed at the court registry as evidence of proof of service on the defendants in The Nigeria Tribune edition of 22nd June, 2022, alongside the hearing notice issued by the court registry as confirmed by the court Bailiff and served on all parties, only for the 3rd defendant or his legal representative to refuse show up in court as expected.
Ayodeji Akerele and Ebun Ajiboye who announced their appearance for the 2nd respondent (INEC), did not oppose to the request of the claimant/applicant for further date to give room for the 1st and 3rd defendants to enter appearance on the matter and file their defence while the court adjourned till the 19th day of July, 2022 for further mention and to take a date for commencement of hearing on the matter as parties are still within time to file their defence.
In a similar development, other cases that came up for mention before Hon. Justice Uche Agomoh includes that of Chieftain of A.P.C in Oyo state, Alh. Kayode Adanla against the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress, INEC and 8 others asking the court to order the state executives of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo from parading themselves as executives party executives pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court to determine whether the first defendant was right to have unilaterarily removed the name of Alh. Kayode Adanla from the list of validly elected executives of the party in the Oyo state chapter of the A.P.C.
Counsel to Alh. Kayode Adanla, Barr. Olusola Sullyman informed the court that all efforts to serve the defendants with the exception of the 2nd defendant (INEC) who filed legal representation and was present in court was being blocked by the parties in question as the court Bailiff was being tossed up and down with various excuses and prayed the court to grant an earlier date of adjournment for the claimant/applicant to file an affidavit of substituted service on all the defendants, a relief which was granted by the court.
Also, former commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy matters in the state, Hon. Bimbo Kolade is also challenging the outcome of the Oyo central senatorial primaries of Oyo state, while the National Vice chairman of the South-west agenda and former National assembly member, Sen. Soji Akanbi is also challenging that of the Oyo south senatorial district of the state.
Samuel Kola Ajadi and Biodun Ikumogunniyi have dragged Saheed Fijabi before the court over non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act in the conduct of the Primaries of Ibadan South-West/ North-West Federal constituency of the state, while Habeeb Idowu Balogun is challenging the imposition of Idris Ajimobi, son of former Governor of Oyo state Sen. Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi on other candidates of Ibadan South-West constituency 2, with evidence before the court among others.
