Politics
Aggrieved aspirants ask court to nullify all PDP primaries conducted in Oyo
Some aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have asked the Federal High Court in Ibadan to nullify all State House of Assembly, Governorship, House of Representatives and Senatorial District Primaries conducted in the state.
The eight aspirants through their counsel, Tunde Falola, are urging the court to set aside the PDP Primaries conducted on May 21st, 22nd and May 23, 2022, in Oyo State, because they were allegedly conducted in flagrant violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), the PDP’s Constitution as well as its Guidelines.
They are also seeking an injunction restraining PDP and INEC from using and/or utilizing any other list of Ad-Hoc and National Delegates for the nomination of candidates into various elective positions at the 2023 general election in Oyo State other than the list of Ad-Hoc and National Delegates which emanated from Ward and Local Government Area Congresses conducted on the 30 April 2022 and 10th May 2022 in Oyo State in compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act, PDP’s Constitution as well as its Guidelines.
The Plaintiffs in the suit are Hon. Taofeef Abiola, Niyi Aborisade(a lawyer), Hon. Taiwo Jimoh, Sakiru Olaide Raheem, Akande Olalekan, Jelil Azeez, Ayoade Olusegun and Anifowoshe Dayo James.
The PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are joined as respondents to the suit.
In the suit, the plaintiffs are asking the court for “a declaration that having regards to the combined provisions of Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended), Sections 15(2)(e) and 18(2)(c) of the PDP’s Constitution and the Guidelines for Ward, Local Government Area, State, Zonal Congresses and the National Convention of the party, the Defendants are statutorily bound to accord recognition to, act on and/or deal with the list of Ad-Hoc and National Delegates elected at the Ward and Local Government Area Congresses conducted in Oyo State on 30th April 2022 and 10th May 2022 respectively for the nomination of candidates for 2023 general elections in the state”.
They further urged the court “to declare that the purported lists of Ad-hoc delegates used for the conduct of State House of Assembly, Governorship, House of Representatives and Senatorial District Primaries on May 21st, 2022, May 25th, 2022, May 22nd, 2022 and May 23rd, 2022 for the nomination of candidates for the 2023 General Elections in Oyo State are illegal and unconstitutional, having not emanated from the Ward Congress conducted on April 30, 2022, in Oyo State”.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit and deposed to by one of the Applicants, Taofeef Abiola, they claimed that they are card-carrying members of the PDP in Oyo State and as aspirants who participated and contested for the various elective positions in the Oyo State Chapter of the party.
The politicians also maintained that having complied with the combined provisions of Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), the Constitution of the PDP, the Guidelines for Ward, Local Government Area, State, Zonal Congresses and the National Convention of the PDP, the lists of Ad-Hoc and National Delegates elected through the Ward and Local Government Area Congresses held on said April 30, 2022, and May 10, 2022, respectively in Oyo State and no other lists of delegates ought to be accorded recognition as the authentic and lawfully elected delegates of the PDP in Oyo State by the INEC for nominations of candidates at the 2023 General Election in Oyo State.
“That in preparation for the 2023 General Election, the second Defendant (PDP) released and published the Time-Table and Schedule of Activities for its Ward, Local Government Area and the National Convention, to elect party Ad-Hoc and National Delegates.
“That under the above, the second Defendant also adopted its January 2020 Guidelines for the Conduct of the said Ward, Local Government Area, State, Zonal Congresses and the National Convention.
“That in line with the party’s already published Time-Table referred to in paragraph 9 above and under the Provision of Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) and the second Defendant’s Constitution, the second Defendant Conducted its Ward Congresses in Oyo State on April 30, 2022, and Three AD-HOC Ward Delegates were elected from each of the Wards in the State.
“That contrary to the aforementioned directive by the second Defendant and in sharp contravention of the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) and the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution, a minority group within the second Defendant Party in Oyo State who did not participate at the said Ward and Local Government Area Congresses have connived with some Elements and National officers of the second Defendant and perfected, planned and jettisoned the authentic and legally recognisable list of delegates emanating from the said Ward and Local Government Area Congresses.
“That notwithstanding our protest also, the 2nd Defendant’s Agents who conducted the primaries insisted and went on with the purported primaries.
“That at the said primaries also, the authentic Ad-hoc Delegates who could have voted for me as well as other Plaintiffs were severally beaten and injured by the thugs sponsored by the said minority group within the 2nd Defendant, who was behind the manipulation of the lists in question”.
However, the court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
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