A Federal High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, has nullified the candidature of the African Democratic Congress Governorship flag bearer in Ogun State, Biyi Otegbeye, as well as the party’s State Assembly candidates, noting that the primary election which produced Otegbeye and the state assembly candidates was not monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The presiding judge, Akintayo Aluko affirmed that the primary election was held in violation of the Electoral Act, adding that the candidature of Biyi Otegbeye and the ADC state assembly candidates are against the provisions of Electoral Act.
The court ruled that Biyi Otegbeye and the assembly candidates are not the valid candidates of ADC for the 2023 governorship and state assembly elections.
Major Political Parties in Ogun State apart from the ruling All Progressives Congress have been battling with internal contradictions and crisis over one reason or the Other.
While the Peoples Democratic Party which is the main Opposition party in the State is battling with factional candidates for its governorship ticket within its ranks with diverse claimants to its governorship ticket from Honourable Oladipo Adebutu, Segun Showunmi and Jimi Adebisi Lawal.
The battle has shifted from the party offices with the issues having oscillated between the High Court and the Supreme Court with the latest being the decision cancelling the re-run governorship primary won by Jim Adebisi Lawal for contravening the constitution and the party’s laws and Constitution.
The Court has also ordered a retrial of the case from the State High Court.
While the African Democratic Congress which was expected to enjoy the support of a former Governor of Ogun State and Former Presidential aspirant, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has now also gone into full blown crisis with this ruling which has ensured that the party currently do not have candidates for the Ogun State House of Assembly and a Governorship candidate, Biyi Otegbeye, whose fate and participation in the election in Ogun State now hangs in the balance.
