In a significant ruling, a Federal High Court in Akure has dismissed a lawsuit contesting the eligibility of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, to participate in the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 16, 2024.
The case was brought before the court by Olugbenga Edema, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who alleged that Aiyedatiwa’s nomination was obtained through fraudulent means. Edema, who recently departed the All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing in the party’s primaries, sought the court’s intervention to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retract the nominations of Aiyedatiwa and Adelami.
The legal action aimed to clarify the nomination process as outlined in Section 15 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended). However, the NNPP later withdrew from the lawsuit, leading to the removal of its name from the proceedings.
During the latest hearing, Edema’s attorney, Soladoye Ekundayo, requested an adjournment to amend the plaintiff’s pleadings after filing an appeal concerning the NNPP’s earlier removal from the case. This request was met with opposition from defense counsels, who argued for the case’s dismissal due to lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke presided over the proceedings and noted that the filing of an appeal does not automatically suspend court activities. She criticized the plaintiff’s failure to amend the pleadings as previously directed, labeling it as self-serving. Consequently, the court dismissed the case and imposed a fine of ₦100,000 on the plaintiff for his actions.
This ruling has been a pivotal moment in the electoral landscape of Ondo State, underscoring the complexities of election-related litigations in Nigeria.
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